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PHILADELPHIA 
18$ 


LIFE 


JOHN   FITCH, 


INVENTOR    OF    THE    STEAM-BOAT. 


THOMPSON   WESTCOTT. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 
J.   B.   LIPPINCOTT    &    CO. 

1857. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1857,  by 
J.  B.  LIPPIXCOTT  4  CO., 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Distric|  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


VM 

HO 


TO 

THE  OFFICERS  AND  STOCKHOLDERS 


THE  SUCCESSORS  OF  THOSE  WHO,  SIXTY-FOUR  YEARS  AGO,  RECEIVED 

THE  WRITTEN   MEMORIALS  OF  AN  UNFORTUNATE  GENIUS, 

AND  PRESERVED  THEM  UNTIL  A  TIME  WHEN  THEY 

COULD  BE  APPRECIATED  AND  UNDERSTOOD, 

THIS    BIOGRAPHY 

OF  A  MAN  FAITHFUL  AMID  DISCOURAGEMENTS, 
PATIENT   UNDER   INSULT, 

AND 

LOFTY  IN  PURPOSE  AGAINST  THE  WORLD'S  CONTEMPT, 
Us  Bespectfullg  ErMcateto. 

September  1,  1857. 


(iii) 


963574 


PREFACE. 


"A  BIOGRAPHY  of  John  Fitch,"  wrote  Noah  Webster  to  R.  W. 
Griswold,  in  1839,  "  is  a  desideratum  yet  to  be  supplied." 
The  world  has  been  accustomed  to  consider  John  Fitch  as  a 
theorist,  who  merely  imagined,  or  unsuccessfully  attempted  to 
prove,  the  possibility  of  moving  boats  by  steam.  By  the  general 
voice,  Robert  Fulton  has  been  most  unjustly  lauded  as  the  in- 
ventor of  the  steam-boat.  Honor  is  paid  to  his  memory  by 
statesmen,  orators,  and  writers,  and  "  poor  John  Fitch,"  if  ever 
alluded  to,  is  spoken  of  as  one  who  knew  not  how  to  produce 
the  effects  which  he  was  ingenious  enough  to  conjecture  were 
possible.  Perhaps  a  stronger  instance  of  the  tendency  of  man- 
kind to  elevate  the  fortunate  and  to  degrade  the  unfortunate, 
cannot  be  adduced.  It  is  the  design  of  this  volume  to  remove 
all  pretext  for  error  upon  this  point,  and  to  endeavor  to  place- 
the  fame  of  the  original  in  the  favorable  position  now  occu- 
pied by  the  imitator  and  copyist.  If  the  United  States  arc  en- 
titled to  the  distinction  of  being  the  scene  of  the  first  practical 
applications  of  steam  to  the  propulsion  of  vessels,  reliance  must 
be  placed  upon  Fitch's  successful  experiments  in  1786,  1787, 
1788,  and  1789,  and  which  in  1790  were  crowned  by  the  practi- 
cal proofs  afforded  by  the  passages  of  a  packet,  passenger,  and 
freight  steam-boat  on  the  Delaware,  which,  for  more  than  three 
months,  made  trips  between  certain  places  as  regularly  as  do 
the  steam-boats  of  the  present  day,  with  ease  and  safety,  and 
without  material  stoppage,  accident,  or  delay.  If  we  cannot 
rely  upon  Fitch's  claims  to  the  invention  of  the  steam-boat,  Eng- 
land is  entitled  to  that  honor.  Symington's  steam-boat  was 
tried  in  1788,  and  practically  succeeded  in  1801.  Fulton's  ex- 
periments at  Plombieres  were  made  in  1803,  whilst  his  triumphs 
on  the  Hudson  (entirely  destitute  of  originality)  were  delayed 
until  1807  ;  or  twenty-one  years  after  Fitch  propelled  his  first 
skiff  steam-boat  on  the  Delaware,  and  nearly  as  long  after  Mil- 
1*  (v) 


VI  PREFACE. 

ler  and  Symington  built  the  first  Scottish  steam  pleasure-boat 
at  Dalwinstom 

In  this  narration  are  sketched  the  early  career  of  the  subject 
of  the  biography ;  his  Revolutionary  services  to  the  State  of 
New  Jersey  ;  his  adventures  in  the  wilds  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio; 
his  captivity  by  Indians,  and  as  a  British  prisoner ;  his  exer- 
tions to  obtain  means  to  construct  a  steam-boat ;  his  trials,  fail- 
ures, difficulties  in  building  machinery,  and  his  successful  appli- 
cation of  steam  to  the  propulsion  of  three  steam-boats  on  the 
Delaware  ;  the  abandonment  of  a  fourth  when  nearly  finished  ; 
the  propulsion  of  a  steam-boat  at  New  York ;  his  mortification 
at  the  lukewarmness  of  bis  countrymen  as  to  the  merit  of  his 
invention,  and  his  final  suicide,  to  escape  from  an  existence  per- 
secuted by  continual  misfortunes. 

As  collateral  to  some  of  these  events,  and  proper  to  an  under- 
standing of  them,  full  reference  is  made  to  the  steam-boat  plans 
of  James  Rumsey,  together  with  notices  of  the  experiments  of 
Samuel  Morey,  Nicholas  I.  Rooseveldt,  William  Longstreet,  the 
Stevens  family,  and  Oliver  Evans,  after  the  time  of  Fitch,  and 
before  the  appearance  of  the  Clermont,  Fulton's  first  steam- 
boat on  the  Hudson.  To  these  have  been  added,  references  to 
steam-boat  trials  in  Europe,  by  De  Jouffroy,  Auxiron,  Perrier, 
Miller,  and  Symington  ;  together  with  a  sketch  of  the  contests 
between  various  inventors  in  the  United  States  after  1807,  no- 
tices of  early  ocean  steam  navigation  as  well  as  of  Western  navi- 
gation, and  whatever  could  be  adduced  to  add  interest  to  the  main 
narrative,  and  to  render  the  volume  within  the  limits  assigned  a 
record  of  the  origin  and  progress  of  the  propulsion  of  vessels 
by  steam. 

The  cotemporaries  of  John  Fitch  have  nearly  all  passed  from 
the  stage  of  life.  To  a  new  generation  appeal  is  made  for  jus- 
tice to  the  memory  of  one  whose  fame  has  long  been  obscured 
by  an  usurped  credit,  improperly  allowed  to  another.  If  the 
present  age  does  not,  posterity,  it  is  hoped,  will,  reverse,  as  far 
as  is  now  possible,  the  foreboding  prophecy  of  the  derided  and 
despised  genius,  written  in  1791:  "The  day  will  come  when 
some  more  powerful  man  will  get  fame  and  riches  from  my  inven- 
tion ;  but  nobody  will  believe  that  poor  John  Fitch  can  do  any- 
thing worthy  of  attention." 

PHILADELPHIA,  Sept.  1, 1857. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

INFANCY    AND     BOYHOOD. 

Page 

Reasons  given  by  John  Fitch  for  writing  an  account  of  his 
life — Origin  of  the  Fitch  family — Emigration  of  the  ances- 
tors of  John  Fitch  to  America — They  settle  in  Connecti- 
cut— Marriage  of  Joseph  Fitch — Birth  of  John — Is  sent  to 
school  —  Death  of  his  mother  —  Second  marriage  of  his 
father — Heroism  of  the  boy,  and  punishment  therefor — 
Is  taken  from  school  when  ten  years  of  age — His  progress 
in  arithmetic — Studies  at  home — Procures  a  copy  of  Sal- 
mon's Geography — His  efforts  to  earn  sufficient  money  to 
pay  for  it — Assists  Governor  Wolcott  in  making  surveys 
— Disappointment — The  Governor  and  the  road-menders — 
Fitch  hired  out  to  a  store-keeper — Goes  to  sea — Returns 

.    25 


CHAPTER   II. 

APPRENTICESHIP  —  MANHOOD  —  MARRIAGE. 

Bound  apprentice  to  Benjamin  Cheany,  to  learn  clock- 
making  and  watch-making  —  Compelled  to  labor  on  the 
farm — Scarcity  of  food — The  story  of  the  twelve-days-old 

(vii) 


Ill  CONTEXTS. 

broth  —  Is  prevented  from  learning  anything  about  the 
business — Badly  treated  by  Cheany — His  indentures  can- 
celled— Goes  to  Timothy  Cheany — Still  deprived  of  oppor- 
tunities of  learning  his  trade  —  Nearly  starved  —  Leaves 
him,  at  length,  at  manhood,  ignorant  of  the  business  — 
Sets  up  brass-founding — Is  allowed  to  take  a  clock  apart 
and  put  it  together — Engages  in  the  manufacture  of  pot-  - 
ash — Failure  in  that  speculation — Marries  Lucy  Roberts 
— Unhappy  union — Birth  of  Shaler  Fitch — Domestic  dis- 
sensions— Abandons  his  wife  and  family 41 


CHAPTER   III. 

'"'  *  *•<  *    !  ^- 

THE   SILVERSMITH  —  THE   GUNSMITH. 

«^  •     •  ' »  .         .-..  4  .  .  •  J       . 

Fitch  goes  to  Pittsfield,  New  York,,  and  successively  visits 
Albany  and  New  York — Proceeds  toward  Elizabethtown, 
New  Jersey  —  Adventure  with  a  termagant  —  Settles  at 
Trenton,  New  Jersey — Is  aided  by  Matthew  Clunn — Be- 
comes journeyman  to  a  silversmith — Makes  buttons — Tra- 
vels through  the  country  to  dispose  of  them  —  Buys  the 
tools  of  his  former  employer  —  Gets  into  a  prosperous 
business  as  a  silversmith  — Breaking  out  of  the  Revolu- 
tion —  Fitch  elected  a  lieutenant  in  the  New  Jersey  line 
— Disputes  about  rank — Injustice  done  him — Leaves  the 
service  —  Is  employed  by  New  Jersey  as  armorer  of  the 
troops — His  services — Approach  of  the  British  to  Tren- 
ton— Removal  to  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania — Becomes 
a  member  of  the  Hatborough  Library  Company  ...  51 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE    SCTTLER THE    SURVEYOR. 

Fitch  supplies  the  American  army  at  Valley  Forge  with 
tobacco,  beer,  and  other  articles  —  Buries  his  gold  and 
silver  in  Bucks  County — It  is  discovered  and  stolen — Dis- 


CONTENTS.  IX 

covery  of  the  thief,  and  partial  restitution  —  Commences 
work  again  as  a  silversmith — Great  depreciation  of  Con- 
tinental money  —  Determines  to  lay  out  his  Continental 
money  in  Virginia  land-warrants — Is  appointed  a  deputy- 
surveyor  in  Kentucky — Adventures  on  the  Ohio  River — 
Stirring  fight  with.  Indians,  who  capture  a  boat — Escape 
from  the  enemy — Arrival  in  Kentucky — Surveys  of  lands 
there — Profitable  investments — Patents  for  1600  acres  of 
land  .  .  63 


CHARTER   V. 

THE   INDIAN'S   CAPTIVE. 

Journey  to  Kentucky  in  the  spring  of  1782 — Buys  flour  at 
Pittsburg — Voyage  down  the  Ohio  —  Boat  runs  aground 
near  the  Muskingum  River  —  Flour  taken  out  to  set  her 
afloat — Scouts  sent  out  on  the  island  —  Do  not  return  — 
The  parties  in  the  boats  attacked  by  Indians  —  Tw_o  men 
killed  —  Resistance  —  Capture  by  Indians  —  Magee  and 
Bradley  scalped  —  Boat  set  adrift  with  a  war-club  tied  to 
the  steering-oar  —  Attempt  of  Captain  Buffaloe  to  toma- 
hawk Fitch — Interposition  of  Captain  Crow — Fitch,  bare- 
headed, marches  with  his  companions  through  the  wilder- 
ness toward  Detroit  —  Division  of  the  prisoners  among 
their  captors  —  Fitch  becomes  the  property  of  Captain 
Buffaloe — Manner  of  securing  the  prisoners  by  day  and 
night  —  Scarcity  of  food  — The  pains  of  hunger  — They 
reach  a  village  of  the  Delawares — The  scalp  halloo — Cere- 
mony with  the  scalps  of  Bradley  and  Magee — William- 
son's massacre  of  Moravian  Indians  on  the  Muskingum — 
Consequences  of  that  ruthless  act  to  the  prisoners — March 
toward  the  principal  town  of  the  Delawares  —  Prepara- 
tions for  running  the  gauntlet  —  The  flight  toward  the 
council-house — Assaults  received  by  the  prisoners  on  their 
way  there  —  The  worst  treatment  from  the  women  —  The 
council-house  gained •  ....  73 


X  CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER  VI. 

ADVENTURES   AMONG   THE   SAVAGES. 

The  Grand  Council  deliberate  on  the  fate  of  the  prisoners 
— Preparations  for  a  dance  —  Firea  built  —  Curious  steps 
and  ceremonies  —  The  prisoners  invited  to  join  —  Refusal 
of  Fitch  —  Offer  made  to  him  by  a  chief  for  his  breeches 
— His  refusal  —  Another  prisoner  more  compliant  —  The 
prisoners  suffered  to  proceed  —  Four  of  them  given  up  to 
the  Delaware  chief — Fitch  and  six  others  marched  to  Cap- 
tain Buffaloe's  town — Separation  from  Captain  Washing- 
ton's party — The  prisoners  set  to  house-building  by  Buf- 
faloe  —  Scarcity  of  food  —  Buffaloe  and  his  handmaid  — 
The  march  resumed  towards  Detroit — Meeting  of  Buffaloe 
with  his  wife  and  child  —  Their  separation — The  party 
proceeds  —  Bad  weather  —  Arrive  at  the  trading-post  of 
Cochran  and  Saunders,  at  an  Ottawa  town  on  the  Mau- 
niee  River — Arrival  of  Delawares — Murder  of  a  servant 
of  Saunders  by  one  of  them — Fearful  peril  of  the  prison- 
ers from  the  drunken  Indians  —  The  scalp  halloo  —  The 
Ottawa  Indians  take  the  part  of  the  captives — The  Dela- 
wares retire  —  Captain  Buffaloe  dooms  the  prisoners  to 
destruction,  and  orders  them  to  go  to  the  Delaware  camp 
—  Special  protection  accorded  to  Fitch  —  Danger  of  the 
others — Narrow  escape  of  Jarrad — Interposition  of  Saun- 
ders in  their  behalf — They  go  with  him  in  a  canoe  to  De- 
troit— Capture  of  Sturgeon,  and  great  feast  .....  86 


CHAPTER   VII. 

THE    PRISONER   OF   WAR   IN   CANADA. 

Arrival  at  Detroit — They  give  the  garrison  the  first  informa- 
tion of  the  capture  of  Cornwallis— Incredulity  of  the  offi- 
cers— The  prisoners  are  closely  confined,  to  prevent  them 
from  spreading  the  news  —  Means  of  evasion  adopted  — 


CONTENTS. 

Fitch  earns  money  by  engraving— Voyage  over  the  Lake 
—  Arrival  at  Niagara  —  Departure,  and  final  arrival  at 
Prison  Island,  opposite  Coteau  de  Lac — Large  number  of 
prisoners  there — Occupations  of  Fitch  while  on  the  island 
— He  cultivates  a  garden — Makes  tools  out  of  hoops  and 
rough  pieces  of  iron — Builds  a  furnace — Makes  buttons 
and  wooden  clocks  —  Makes  his  own  charcoal  —  Takes 
journeymen  and  apprentices  from  among  the  prisoners—- 
His workshop  a  favorite  place  of  resort  for  the  British 
officers  —  Jealousy  of  the  other  prisoners  —  Attempts  of 
prisoners  to  escape  .  .  •.  ;,  _",  ^1-',*  . 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE   EXCHANGE  —  THE    SEA   VOYAGE. 

Exchange  of  the  prisoners — Fitch  sent  to  Quebec — Placed 
on  board  the  cartel-ship  Baker  and  Atly,  bound  to  Phila- 
delphia —  The  voyage  —  A  severe  storm  —  Fears  of  ship- 
wreck—  Curious  preparation  for  the  expected  disaster  — 
Encounter  of  an  American1  frigate  —  The  South  Carolina 
chased  by  three  British  men-of-war — The  sea-fight — Cap- 
ture of  the  South  Carolina— The  Baker  and  Atly  steered 
for  New  York — Release  of  the  prisoners — Fitch  returns 
to  Bucks  County — Joins  a  Masonic  lodge  ......  104 


CHAPTER   IX. 

ADVENTURES  IN  KENTUCKY  AND  OHIO. 

A  company  formed  to  survey  lands  in  Ohio — The  party  go 
to  that  region — Survey  from. the  Hockhocking  to  Wheel- 
ing Island— Difficulty— Fears  of  Indians — Fitch  goes  with 
frontier  men  into  the  woods — Rapid  surveys — Return  to 
Pennsylvania  on  foot  —  Journey  to  Ohio  in  the  spring  of 
1785 — Survey  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Muskingum  and 
the  Ilockhocking — Indian  signs — Division  of  the  party — 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

Narrow  escape  of  Fitch  and  his  companions— Sterrett  and 
his  associates  captured — Surveys  at  the  great  Kanawha 

—  Return  to  Bucks  County  —  Resolution  of  Congress  for 
laying  out  new  States — Another  journey  to  Ohio — More 
surveys — Return  to  Bucks — Petition  to  Congress  for  the 
post  of  surveyor— A  map  of  the  North-western  Territory 
engraved  by  Fitch  and  printed  on  a  press  made  by  him- 

eeif.  .^^~-4:*^^\  +.  •*.;•- fy^*;-^*  •  m 

CHAPTER  X. 

THE   INTENTION   OF   THE   STEAM-BOAT  —  JOURNEY   TO   VIRGINIA. 

First  idea  of  steam  land-carriages,  April,  1785  —  The  idea 
given  up  for  the  plan  of  a  steam-boat — Trial  of  a  model 
with  paddle-wheels — Daniel  Longstreth  —  Hon.  N.  B. 
Boileau — Application  to  Congress — Letters  of  Dr.  John 
Ewing,  William  C.  Houston,  and  Provost  Smith,  of  Prince- 
ton—  Fitch's  letter  to  Congress,  asking  assistance  —  Re- 
ferred to  a  Committee,  who  make  no  report — Application 
to  the  Spanish  Minister  —  Drawings  and  model  of  the 
steam-boat  laid  before  the  American  Philosophical  So- 
ciety— Application  to  Dr.  Franklin — Accusation  that  Dr. 
Franklin  attempted  to  deprive  Fitch  of  the  honor  of  the 
invention — Fitch  sets  out  for  Kentucky,  to  gain  assistance 
— Visit  to  William  Henry,  at  Lancaster — Interview  with 
Governor  Johnson,  of  Maryland — Interview  with  Wash- 
ington— James  Rumsey's  pole-boat,  working  by  mechani- 
cal power  —  Petition  to  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  for 
assistance — Bond  to  Patrick  Henry,  Governor  of  Virginia, 
conditioned  to  apply  the  proceeds  of  the  map  of  the 
North-western  Territory  to  building  a  steam-boat — Peti- 
tions to  the  Legislatures  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 

—  Interview  with  Franklin  —  Insulting  conduct  of  the 
latter.  >W/ri/s*  J^  V   V  '-\  -.:  t<  1  ...v   .;  *1  .  119 

CHAPTER   XI. 

THE    STEAM-BOAT   COMPANY  —  THE    SKIFF   STEAM-BOAT,    1786. 

Proposal  to  Arthur  Donaldson  to  build  a  steam-boat  —  Ap- 
plication to  the  State  of  New  Jersey  for  an  appropriation 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

of  loan-certificates  refused — Donaldson  pretends  to  be  the 
inventor  of  a  steam-boat — Fitch  presents  a  petition  to  the 
Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  for  a  law  giving  him  an  ex- 
clusive right  to  the  navigation  of  vessels  by  fire  and 
steam — Donaldson  contests  his  claim — The  matter  referred 
to  a  committee — Law  of  New  Jersey  in  favor  of  Fitch — 
New  petition  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  —  The 
Steam-boat  Company  formed  —  Difficulty  about  getting  a 
steam-engine  made  —  Sketch  of  Christopher  Colics,  who 
built  the  first  steam-engine  ever  constructed  in  America, 
in  1773  —  Introduction  to  Henry  Voight,  who  is  induced 
to  interest  himself  in  the  scheme  —  Working  model 
of  a  steam-engine  with  one-inch  cylinder  made  —  Failure 

—  Larger  model  (three-inch   cylinder)  made  —  Trial  of 
a  skiff  with  the  screw  of  paddles  —  Not  very  successful 

—  Disheartened  —  Invention  of  the  mode  of  rowing  by 
oars  at  the  side  of  the  boat — Trial  of  the  first  skiff,  moved 

by  steam — Success  of  the  experiment,  July  27,  1786  .     .  148 

y 'CHAPTER  xn. 

ENCOURAGEMENT   BY  THE    STATES — LARGE   STEAM-BOAT   COMMENCED. 

The  Steam-boat  Company  resolve  to  build  a  large  steam- 
boat, to  be  moved  by  an  engine  with  twelve-inch  cylinder 

—  Difficulty  about  getting  the  subscribers  to  contribute 
the  required  sums  —  Indifference  of  the  shareholders  — 
Distress  of  the  projector — Application  to  the  Legislature 
of  Pennsylvania  for  the  loan  of  £150  to  build  the  boat 
and  machinery  —  Favorable  report  of  Committee  —  The 
Assembly  reject  the  proposition  —  Letter  to  General  Mif- 
flin  for  assistance — The  controversy  with  Donaldson — The 
latter  meets  with  no  favor — Laws  granting  special  rights 
to  Fitch  for  fourteen  years  passed  by  Pennsylvania,  New 
York,  and  Delaware 163 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE  FIRST    STEAM-BOAT  FINISHED SUCCESSFUL  TRIAL  EXPERIMENT, 

1787. 

The  Company  resolve  to  go  on  with  the  boat  —  Description 
of  the  steam-boat  of  1786,  with  paddles  at  the  sides  — 
2  I- 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

The  steam-engine — Difficulties  attending  its  construction 
— Deed  of  reciprocal  advantage — Names  of  the  members 
of  the  Steam-boat  Company  —  The  steam-engine  com- 
pleted, and  found  defective — Taken  out  of  the  boat  from 
the  foundation  and  set  up  again  —  The  condenser  imper- 
fect—  New  pipe  condenser  adopted  on  a  plan  of  Henry 
Voight's  —  Steam-valves  will  not  work  —  Double  cock  in- 
vented by  Voight — The  steam-boat  propelled — The  engine 
brought  to  work  briskly,  but  the  boiler  does  not  furnish 
enough  steam — Shareholders  discouraged — Some  abandon 
the  project  —  Appeal  to  the  public  prepared  by  Fitch  — 
Effect  of  this  paper  on  the  stockholders  —  More  money 
furnished  —  Successful  trial  on  the  22d  of  August,  1787, 
in  presence  of  the  members  of  the  Convention  to  frame  a 
Federal  Constitution  —  Certificates  of  Dr.  Johnston,  of 
Virginia,  David  Rittenhouse,  John  Ewing,  and  Andrew 
Ellicott — The  Company  order  a  larger  steam-engine  to  be 
constructed,  with  an  eighteen-inch  cylinder — First  infor- 
mation that  James  Rutnsey,  of  Virginia,  claimed  to  have 
invented  a  steam-boat  —  Application  by  Fitch  to  the  Le- 
gislature of  Virginia  for  a  law  securing  his 'rights — Oppo- 
sition by  the  friends  of  Rumsey  —  Rumsey's  boat  proved 
not  to  be  a  steam-boat  —  Report  in  favor  of  Fitch,  and 
passage  of  a  law  securing  his  rights  —  Law  in  favor  of 
Fitch  asked  of  Maryland — Resisted  by  Ex-Governor  Tho- 
mas Johnston  177 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

APPLICATION    TO    CONGRESS JAMES    RUMSEY's    STEAM-BOAT. 

Return  to  Philadelphia — Petition  to  Congress  for  assistance 
—  Congress  not  full  enough  to  vote  on  the  proposition  — 
Favorable  report  of  the  Committee  of  Congress  —  A  vote 
not  pressed  —  Appearance  of  Rumsey's  pamphlet  upon 
the  steam-boat — Fitch's  reply,  "  The  Original  Steam-boat 
supported  " — The  report  on  Fitch's  proposition  called  up 
in  Congress,  and  laid  on  the  table — Chagrin  and  mortifi- 
cation of  the  inventor .  199 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER   XV. 

CONTROVERSY    Mr  I  T  H     RUMSET. 

The  controversy  with  Rumsey —  The  allegations  on  each 
side  —  The  invention  of  the  pipe  or  tubular  boiler  —  The 
pamphlets  by  Rumsey,  Fitch,  and  Barnes  —  Collocation 
of  proofs  —  Reasons  for  believing  that  Fitch  was  entitled 
to  priority  in  actual  experiment  —  Action  of  Congress  on 
the  claims  of  Rumsey's  heirs,  1837-8-9 207 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE   SECOND   SUCCESSFUL   STEAM-BOAT    OP    1788. 

Work  on  the  boat  continued  —  Improvements  by  Voight  — 
The  pipe  boiler  put  in  use  —  The  eighteen-inch  cylinder 
defective — Broken  up  by  the  founders — Dilemma  of  the 
Company — Resolve  to  procure  a  new  boat — Abandonment 
of  the  oars  at  the  sides  of  the  boat  —  They  are  placed  at 
the  stern — The  steam-boat  goes  to  Burlington,  July,  1788 
— The  pipe  boiler  springs  a  leak — The  boat  floats  back  to 
Philadelphia — Visit  of  Brissot  de  Warville,  and  descrip- 
tion of  the  steam-boat  —  The  leak  in  the  boiler  repaired 
—  Frequent  trips  to  Burlington  —  The  great  principle 
made  manifest  —  Certificate  of  the  services  of  the  steam- 
boat, by  Ewing,  Rittenhouse,  Ellicott,  Matlack,  Smilie, 
Captain  Hart,  and  others  —  Speed,  four  miles  an  hour  — 
Not  fast  enough  for  a  packet-boat — Several  stockholders, 
disheartened,  abandon  the  Company — Withdrawal  of  the 
assistance  of  Voight  —  New  appeal  —  An  auxiliary  com- 
pany proposed  —  Names  of  the  members  —  Distress  and 
destitution  of  Fitch  —  Insults  offered  to  him  and  suffered 
by  him  —  The  Rumseian  Society  —  Dr.  Franklin's  con- 
duct—  Barnes  and  the  Rumseian  Society  attack  Fitch's 
law  in  Pennsylvania  —  Argument  before  the  Committee 
of  the  Legislature  —  Report  adverse  to  Rumsey,  and  fail- 
ure of  the  effort  —  Attempts  made  to  procure  the  repeal 


yi  CONTENTS. 

of  Fitch's  laws  in  Virginia,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and 
Delaware  —  Second  attempt  in  Pennsylvania  also  unsuc- 
cessful—Fitch visits  Sbepherdstown,  Virginia,  in  order  to 
procure  evidence  in  relation  to  Ramsey's  experiments — Al- 
tercation and  quarrels  with  the  townspeople — Fresh  proofs 
procured,  etc.— The  steam  ice-boa*  .  •;  s»  .  .  ".  .  .  248 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

HIW    MACHINERY IMPERFECTION    OP    THE   WORK  —  DESTITCTIOH 

OF   FITCH. 

Work  on  the  new  boat  resumed — Eighteen-inch  cylinder — 
The  boat  ready  for  trial  in  August,  1789  —  Difficulties 
about  the  condenser — Petition  to  Congress  for  a  patent — 
Hall's  condenser  taken  out  of  the  boat,  and  Thornton's 
pat  in — The  latter  crushed  by  atmospheric  pressure — The 
new  steam-boat  tried  with  Hall's  condenser — Propelled  as 
swiftly  as  in  the  previous  year — The  new  Thornton  con- 
denser tried  —  The  boat  is  propelled,  but  not  fast  enough 
— Voight's  pipe  condenser  tried — Voighf  s  forcing-pump, 
to  throw  water  in  the  condenser — Constant  failures — At- 
tention turned  to  the  air-pump — It  is  enlarged — The  engine 
works  better — The  boat  catches  fire — It  is  sunk,  to  extin- 
guish the  fire  —  The  damage  repaired  —  The  steam-boat 
tried  again,  and  propelled  with  greater  speed  than  hitherto 
obtained  —  The  boat  laid  up  for  the  winter  —  Distressing 
and  destitute  condition  of  Fitch — A  new  boiler  to  be  put 
in  the  boat — Trouble  and  disputes  with  the  shareholders 
about  a  new  condenser — The  Directors  order  a  very  large 
one — A  complete  failure — Fitch's  views  of  the  difficulty 
— A  condenser  obtained  on  his  plan — Very  successful 
result,  April  16,  1790  — The  steam-boat  tried  in  a  strong 
north-east  storm — Visit  to  Burlington — Trip  in  tlfe  boat 
by  the  Governor  and  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Penn- 
sylvania—  They  present  the  steam-boat  with  a  suit  of 
colon  —  Speed  of  the  boat,  eight  miles  an  boor  at  slack- 


CONTENTS.  XVU 

water  —  The  steam-boat  ran  as  a  passenger-boat  on  the 
Delaware  to  Burlington,  Bristol,  Bordentown,  Trenton, 
Lambertville,  Chester,  Wilmington,  and  to  Gray's  Ferry, 
on  the  Schuylkill — Advertisements  of  the  trips— Descrip- 
tion of  the  steam-boat  in  the  New  York  Magazine — Rem- 
brandt Peale's  account — The  steam-boat  passes  over  two 
thousand  miles  —  Speed,  seven  miles  and  a  half  an  hour 
— Fulton's  letter,  denying  the  possibility  of  propelling  a 
steam-boat  six  miles  an  hour,  1811— Dr.  Thornton's  reply  270 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

COWIESCEMBXT   OF   THE    STEAK-BOAT   PERSKTIBAXCB. 

The  two  steam-boat  companies  consolidated  —  The  stock- 
holders determine  to  build  a  new  steam-boat,  to  be  named 
the  Perseverance,  to  be  sent  to  Virginia  —  A  new  levy 
made  on  the  shareholders  —  Difficulty  of  collecting  the 
money  —  Aid  sought  from  members  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Legislature  from  the  western  counties  —  General  Gibson 
requested  to  become  a  partner  in  building  a  boat  at  Pitts- 
burg — A  great  storm — The  Perseverance  blown  aground 
at  Potty's  Island  —  Expiration  of  the  time  limited  in  the 
law  of  Virginia  for  the  navigation  of  steam-boats  on  the 
waters  of  that  State  —  The  old  steam-boat  and  the  Perse- 
verance laid  up  fur  the  winter  —  Fitch  petitions  for  a  pa- 
tent under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  —  Letter  to  Ro- 
bert Morris  —  A  trading-house  proposed  at  Xew  Orleans 
— Curious  estimates  of  the  cost  of  navigating  the  Missis- 
sippi, and  of  the  great  profit  of  steam-boats  as  compared 
with  other  boats  —  Address  to  the  stockholders  of  the 
Steam-boat  Company  —  Fitch  becomes  interested  in  the 
doctrines  of  Socinianism,  or  Unitarianism  —  Formation 
of  the  Universal  Society  —  Subjects  proposed  for  essays 
— Dissolution  of  the  Society 294 

2* 


xviii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

DISASTERS  —  LUKEWARMNESS   OF    THE    COMPANY  —  UNITED    STATES 
PATENT. 

Fitch  petitions  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  Sergeant-at-Arms  or  Supervisor  of  Roads 
— Unsuccessful — Fitch  and  Voight  petition  General  Wash- 
ington for  appointments  in  the  Mint  as  Assay  Master  and 
Chief  Coiner  —  Yoight  appointed  Chief  Coiner  —  Fitch's 
application  refused — Delay  in  obtaining  a  hearing  before 
.the  Commissioners  of  Patents  —  Estimates  and  proposals 
submitted  to  Robert  Morris  and  Oliver  Pollock  —  Agree- 
ment made  with  Aaron  Vail  to  build  steam-boats  in 
France,  Holland,  Germany,  Russia,  Prussia,  Denmark, 
Sweden,  and  Switzerland — Proceedings  to  obtain  a  patent 
—  Rumsey  offers  to  submit  his  claims  to  arbitration,  but 
afterwards  refuses — Patents  finally  granted  to  Fitch,  and 
Rumsey,  all  bearing  even  date.  .  .  .  '.  ,  .  i  '. ,  ".  .  313 


CHAPTER   XX. 

WORK   ON   THE    PERSEVERANCE  —  ABANDONMENT   OP   THE   SCHEME. 

A  permit  for  the  navigation  of  the  Mississippi  by  steam 
granted  by  the  Governor  of  New  Orleans — The  Company 
order  the  engine  to  be  taken  out  of  the  old  steam-boat, 
and  direct  the  hull  to  be  sold  —  Resolution  to  finish  the 
Perseverance  —  Delay  about  collecting  money  —  Fitch 
draughts  plans  whereby  the  new  boat  may,  in  addition  to 
the  oars,  be  propelled  by  sucking  in  and  voiding  water, 
and  by  ejections  of  currents  of  air  —  Distress  of  the  pro- 
jector for  decent  clothing — Work  on  the  boat  resumed — 
The  Perseverance  ready  to  be  tried  —  Trouble  about  the 


CONTESTS.  XIX 

boiler-case  and  condenser — New  air-pump  and  condenser 
exhausted  — The  funds  of  the  Company  all  spent  —  Dis- 
pute with  Voight  about  the  cattle-boat  —  Letter  to  David 
Rittenhouse —  Notice  of  the  Savannah  ;  the  first  steam- 
ship that  ever  crossed  the  Atlantic  —  The  Siriua  —  The 
Great  Western — The  shareholders  in  the  Company  -will  ad- 
vance no  more  money  —  Efforts  by  Fitch  to  raise  money 
on  the  credit  of  his  lands  in  Kentucky  —  Final  abandon- 
ment of  the  scheme  by  the  Steam-boat  Company — Games 
and  Blanchard's  balloons  —  Ambroise's  gas-lights  —  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Irwin, —  Disti'ess  of  Fitch — -Thomas  P.  Cope's 
reminiscences  of  Fitch  and  the  steam-boat — Fitch  medi- 
tates suicide — Letter  to  Jefferson — Deposits  his  papers  in 
the  Philadelphia  Library — Recollections  of  a  passage  in 
the  steam-boat  by  Samuel  Palmer  —  Sale  of  the  steam- 
engine  in  1795 329 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

FITCH    GOES   TO    FRANCE  —  HIS    RETURN — GOES    TO    KENTUCKY- 
SUICIDE. 

A  new  method   of  distillation   invented  —  Fitch   sails   to 
France  —  The  building  of  steam-boats  prevented  by  the 

/  French  Revolution  —  Publishes  a  pamphlet  and  tables  in 
London,  with  an  explanation  of  a  ready  way  of  keeping 
a  ship's  reckoning  at  sea — Robert  Leslie — Fitch  returns, 
to  the  United  States — Lives  with  his  brother-in-law,  Timo- 
thy King,  in  Connecticut,  for  two  years  —  Goes  to  New 
York,  and,  by  aid  furnished  by  Chancellor  Livingston, 
propels  a  steam-boat  with  a  screw-propeller  on  the  Col- 
lect, 179G  —  Goes  to  Philadelphia  —  Entertains  the  pro- 
ject of  forming  a  steam-boat  company  in  Kentucky  — 
Goes  there  —  Suits  against  trespassers  —  Reminiscences 
of  his  career  at  Bardstown,  by  Hon.  Robert  J.  Wickiiffo 


X  CONTENTS. 

and  Hon.  Nathaniel  Wickliffe,  of  Kentucky  — The  plan 
to  form  a  steam-boat  company  fails — A  model  steam-boat 
made — Death  of  Fitch  by  suicide,  1798— His  will— Pro- 
position to  erect  a  monument  to  his  memory  never  carried 
out.  .  356 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

STEAM-BOAT   EXPERIMENTS   IN   EUROPE   AND   AMERICA. 

Steam-boat  experiments  in  Europe  and  America  by  other 
projectors  —  Rumsey's  boat  in  Virginia,  December  1787, 
and  on  the  Thames,  February,  1793 — Patents  in  England 
for  propelling  boats  by  powers  not  described  —  Bourne, 
1578— Ramsay,  1630  — Grant,  1632  — Lin,  1637— Ford, 
1640  —  Marquis  of  Worcester,  1667  —  Twogood,  1661  — 
The  Chatham  horse-boat,  with  paddle-wheels  at  the  sides, 
1682 — Allen,  1730 — Hulls  describes  a  plan  for  navigating 
a  boat  by  steam,  1736 — No  boat  built  by  him — Difficulty 
in  converting  the  vibratory  rectilinear  motion  of  the  pis- 
ton into  a  rotary  one — Watt's  double-acting  steam-engine 
—  Perrier  and  Count  Auxiron's  steam-boat  experiments 
on  the  Seine,  1774  and  1775  —  De  Jouffroy's  boat  on  the 
Saone,  1782 — John  Fitch  the  first  person  who  succeeded 
in  making  the  steam-boat  of  utility  by  using  it  for  the 
transportation  of  freight  and  passengers  —  Experiments, 
July  1786,  1787,  1788,  1789,  1790,  at  Philadelphia,  and 
at  New  York  in  1796  —  The  first  steam-boat  propelled  in 
Great  Britain  by  Patrick  Miller  and  William  Symington, 
at  Dahvinston,  Scotland,  October,  1788 — The  first  practi- 
cable steam-boat  for  useful  purposes,  the  "  Charlotte  Dun- 
das,"  built  by  Symington  in  1803  —  Samuel  Morey's 
steam-boats  with  paddle-wheels  on  the  Connecticut,  Hud- 
son, and  Delaware  rivers,  1793,  1794,  and  1795  —  Long- 


CONTENTS.  XXI 

street,  of  Georgia — Oliver  Evans  propels  the  Eruktor  Am- 
phibolis,  as  a  steam-wagon  on  land  and  as  a  steam-boat 
on  the  water,  1804  —  Latrobe's  opinions  of  the  impossi- 
bility of  steam  navigation, .  1803  —  Rooseveldt's  steam- 
boat experiments  —  John  Cox  Stevens'  steam-boat  on  the 
Hudson,  1804  — The  Phoenix  the  first  steam-boat  naviga- 
ting the  ocean — The  New  Philadelphia— Robert  Fulton  a 
resident  of  Philadelphia  in  1785  and  1786,  after  Fitch's 
steam-boat  scheme  was  made  known,  and  the  first  experi- 
ment made  —  Fulton  visits  Symington's  steam-boat  in 
Scotland,  in  1801  —  Is  on  board  during  atrip  —  Takes 
drawings  of  the  machinery — Aaron  Vail  lends  Fulton,  in 
France,  all  the  papers,  drawings,  and  specifications  of 
John  Fitch,  which  are  retained  for  some  months  —  Dr. 
Cartwright  gives  Fulton  a  plan  of  a  steam-boat,  1799  — 
Fulton's  experiment  at  Plombieres,  1803 — Fulton's  steam- 
boat, the  "  Clermont,"  on  the  Hudson,  1807— The  claims 
of  Fulton  to  originality  considered — His  appropriation  of 
the  discoveries  of  others — Livingston  procures  an  assign- 
ment, or  re-transfer  and  extension,  of  the  law  of  New 
York  in  favor  of  Fitch — The  steam-boat  controversy  be- 
tween the  citizens  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  in  con- 
sequence— A  retaliation  law  passed  in  New  Jersey — Ef- 
fort to  repeal  it — The  prior  invention  of  Fitch  relied  upon 

—  Evidence  of  the  usefulness  of  his  boat  —  The  affair 
made  a  party  question— Repeal  of  the  New  Jersey  law — 
Application  made  by  Colonel  Ogden,  of  New  Jersey,  to 
the  Legislature  of  New  York,  to  repeal  the  Fulton  and 
Livingston  [Fitch]  steam-boat  law — Governor  Bloomfield, 
of  New  Jersey,  testifies  to  having  been  a  frequent  pas- 
senger in  Fitch's  boat  on  the  Delaware — The  Committee 
report  in  favor  of  repeal,  and  that  the  boat  of  Robert 
Fulton  is  in  substance  the  invention  of  John  Fitch — Du- 
er's  controversy  with  Golden  in  relation  to  this  matter 

—  Law-suits  —  The  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
declares  the  New  York  law  unconstitutional 373 


xxii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   XXIII. 

STEAM-BOAT    AFFAIRS    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES    AFTER     FULTON'S 
EXPERIMENTS. 

New  interest  aroused  in  steam-boats  —  Dr.  William  Thorn- 
ton's vindication  of  the  claims  of  Fitch,  1810  —  Reasons 
•why  Fitch  rejected  the  use  of  paddle-wheels  —  Henry 
Voight  invents  a  new  method  of  rowing  a  steam-boat  with 
three  banks  of  oars  or  paddles,  1809 — Fernando  Fairfax 
claims  to  have  sole  right  to  license  the  building  of  steam- 
boats under  John  Fitch's  patents,  1815  —  Rooseveldt 
builds  the  first  steam-boat  to  navigate  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi, 1811— The  eventful  first  voyage  of  the  New  Or- 
leans—The Comet,  French's  steam-boat — The  Vesuvius, 
Fulton's  steam-boat — The  Enterprise,  French's  patent — 
Captain  II.  M.  Shreeve  builds  the  Washington,  1816  — 
Lawsuit  with  Fulton  and  Livingston  —  Decision  in  favor 
of  Shreeve — The  Western  waters  free  to  steam-boat  navi- 
gation  399 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

PERSONAL  MATTERS — CONCLUSION. 

Appearance  of  Fitch — his  family  emigrate  to  Ohio — Their 
descendants — Death  of  Mrs.  Lucy  Fitch — Conclusion.  .  411 


Illttstraii0ns; 


1.  The  Grave  af  John  Fitch,  Bardstown,  Ky.      FRONTISPIECE. 

2.  Title-page        •."'•'•<'.   »i.*,  ••  -,  }:'t.     -V     •«      VIGNETTE. 

3.  John  Fitch's  Model  of  1785,  with  Endless  Chain  and 

Floats,  or  Paddle-boards        .  .  J  £  '"  -„'        .        .  131 

4.  A  Section  of  Chain  and  Paddles      "./  ''"".'       .         .131 

5.  Dr.  Franklin's  Plan  of  a  Pumping-boat,  to  go  by  ejec- 

tion of  Water       .'    * '. '  -    '.'  '*  .        .        .        .  135 

6.  Dr.  Franklin's  Plan  of  a  Pumping-boat,  to  go  by  forc- 

ing out  Air  against  Water.        •''^•'        •        •       135 

7.  John  Fitch's  Steam-boat ;  Philadelphia,  1786,  '87.        .  178 

8.  James  RumseyV Steam-boat;  Virginia,  1788    .         .      212 

9.  Section  of  Pipe-boiler  .'.     \"      .  .    .  ..'  f    .*  *'..-..  ,  .  228 

10.  Section  of  Pipe-boiler       -.     . -/  .  _'.     v*v-'V.v«      229 

11.  Section  of  Pipe-boiler  in  its  Furnace     .      -  .''     '  .•       .229 

12.  Double-cylinder  Boiler,   Grate,   and  Furnace   (Henry 

Voight's)  %  '"'^  '  .;  :--  „"•"*  .,  "•  .;  '•'  ;;••'  *.    232 

13.  James  Rumsey's  Steam-boat,  English  Patent  .      .         .  254 

14.  James  Rumsey's  Steam-boat,  English  Patent    .         .       254 

15.  Cylinder,  Condenser,  and  Air-pump  of  Fitch's  Steam- 

boat     .         .'  .         .         .         .         .         .275 

16.  Cylinder,  Condenser,  and  Air-pump  of  Fitch's  Steam- 

boat .        .        .       y     ••»'       .**'.~i.~";  .        .      276 

17.  Dr.   Thornton's   Condenser,   Cylinder,   and   Air-pump 

(fac-simile,  from  pen-and-ink  drawing)     .     .     .      279 

(xxiii) 


XXIV  LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

18.  John  Fitch's  Condenser,  Cylinder,  and  Air-pump  (fac- 

simile, from  pen-and-ink  drawing) 280 

19.  John   Fitch's   Steam-boat  ;  Philadelphia,    1788,  1789, 

1790     ,       x,  >  j  7  -f,;-  •••..."•;  V  .  t./    •.<*''-      .  284 

20.  John  Fitch's  Screw-propeller  Steam-boat  on  the  Collect, 

New  York,  1796    '/  '  V.  „*.  .  •    '.*'•'•":.•«  -  •-       •  362 

21.  Fitch's  Model  Steam-boat;  Bardstown,  Kentucky,  1797, 

1798 368 

22.  The   Charlotte  Dundas,  William  Symington's   Steam- 

boat; Scotland,  1801    .  /;-. '/."  V*    '*    '  ••"•"    •  378 

23.  The  Eruktor  Amphibolis ;  Oliver  Evans,  Philadelphia, 

1804.        r^'Y'  "'•/•"•^:-;  .•'-  '*••,'-?••'  0-      381 

24.  The  Clermont,  Robert  Fulton's  Steam-boat;  New  York, 

1807    -s'-.;,^'    >^;:^'  V     "*'•  ;-*'--;«.      •  390 

25.  Henry  Voight's   improved   Triple  Paddles;   Philadel- 
phia, 1809.      '.:'-;«•'.' '    >'  • .  .«•'.,   >*  v  ^"    "»>:  '   •      403 

•^-•^  :-:•- .      r>1 


THE  LIFE 


JOHN    FITCH 


CHAPTER    I. 

INF  A  JN  CY    AND     BOYHOOD. 

FAITHFULLY  and  thoughtfully  written,  the  narrative 
of  the  course  of  existence  of  every  man  may  have 
something  in  it  to  benefit  those  who  come  after  him. 
The  general  landmarks  of  life,  for  those  who  reach 
adult  years,  are  the  same.  Birth,  education,  employ- 
ment, love,  marriage,  and  death,  are  set  up  as  tokens 
at  the  great  boundaries ;  but  the  intermediate  fields 
are  too  often  passed  over  without  special  interest. 
Forgetfulness  spreads  oblivion  over  transactions  which, 
during  the  brief  hours  when  they  were  transpiring, 
excited  ardent  interest,  noble  emotion,  or  base  passion. 
Hope  looks  forward  and  never  turns  back.  It  is 
Memory's  task  to  dwell  upon  the  vanishing  hues  of  the 
past ;  but,  even  as  she  views  them  the  colors  grow 
fainter,  gradually  fading  until  for  ever  lost.  The  re- 
membrances of  the  living  are  treacherous,  but  Death 
buries  cotemporary  knowledge  with  the  bodies  of  those 
who  possess  it.  Hence  it  is  that  History  becomes 
more  unreliable  as  time  advances,  and  that  events,  well 
3  (26) 


26  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

known  to  the  men  of  a  certain  era,  become,  in  after 
years,  vague,  mysterious,  or  misunderstood. 

It  is  with  some  hope  that  the  veil  which  has  so  long 
obscured  the  merits  of  an  unfortunate  and  ingenious 
man,  shall  be  lifted,  that  these  pages  have  been  writ- 
ten. Justice  to  the  memory  of  one  whose  conceptions 
and  anticipations  far  exceeded  the  shallow  wisdom  of 
his  cotemporaries,  demands  that,  on  the  roll  of  those 
who  haye  benefitted  their  country  shall  be  placed  the 
name  of  John  Fitch,  the  successful  inventor  of  the 
steamboat,  who  demonstrated  the  merits  of  his  inven- 
tion beyond  the  power  of  denial.  The  record  of  his 
trials  and  sufferings  is  now  to  be  placed  before  a  gene- 
ration able  to  appreciate  his  qualities.  The  invention 
of  the  steamboat  has  been  a  matter  of  importance  to 
the  civilized  world.  It  is  our  aim  to  show  that  such  a 
machine  was  not  only  suggested  in  the  United  States, 
but  that  it  was  brought  to  such  practical  perfection,  as 
to  be  used  for  purposes  of  freight  and  passage  many 
years  before  it  was  usefully  employed  in  any  other 
country,  and  many  years  before  the  luckier  but  less 
original  demonstration,  by  the  adapter  of  the  ideas  of 
others,  Robert  Fulton. 

Very  much  of  the  story  of  the  life  of  John  Fitch  was 
written  by  himself,  in  compliance  with  the  desire  of  his 
friend,  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Irwin,  of  Bucks  County, 
Pennsylvania,  who,  during  the  course  of  an  acquaintance 
extending  through  several  years,  had  always  taken  an 
interest  in  the  fortunes  of  the  ingenious  and  struggling 
enthusiast.  In  the  first  page  of  his  written  autobi- 
ography, Fitch  testifies  his  attachment  to  Mr.  Irwin, 
in  the  following  quaint  manner  : 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  27 

To  THE  WORTHY  NATIIAXIEL  IRWINE,  OF  NESHAMINEV. 

SIR  —  Was  I  a  Bigott  in  your  Beliefs  and  doctrines,  which 
vou  so  zealously,  and  with  the  greatest  ingenuity  that  I  ever 
heard  from  a  Pulpit,  weekly  support,  I  should  think  that  the 
word  Reverand  would  bearly  do  you  justice,  and  for  fear  if  I 
used  that  word,  it  might  be  imputed  to  the  function  of  a  Chris- 
tian preacher,  I  omited  it;  but,  Sir,  you  may  be  assured  that 
I  rever  you  more  than  any  man,  but  not  because  you  are  a  Chris- 
tian Preacher,  but  because  I  esteem  you  one  of  the  most  valu- 
able citizens  of  Pennsylvania,  and  have  frequently  felt  a  secret 
Pain  that  such  an  exalted  Genius  should  be  confined  to  the  Piti- 
ful business  of  Neshaminey  Congregation,  whilst  many  of  the 
first  offices  of  Government  are  filled  by  those  much  less  de- 
serving. 

The  last  conference  I  had  with  you,  Sir,  you  requested  a  detail 
of  my  life.  I,  sir,  would  not  have  gratified  even  Mr.  Irwin  him- 
self, in  this,  were  it  not  for  several  reasons :  the  first  is,  I  have 
already  made  myself  so  noticed  that  I  never  can  in  future  con- 
ceal myself;  and  knowing,  Sir,  that  there  is  every  malignant 
disposition,  as  well  as  friends,  to  Laudable  endeavours  ;  and  the 
curious  of  this  world  will  hardly  be  satisfied  without  some  story 
to  tell,  if  they  have  to  frame  stories  out  of  their  own  brain  re- 
specting me;  but  a  Principle  reason  is  this  —  my  life  sir  has 
been  filled  with  such  a  variety  of  Changes  which  will  afford 
Buch  useful  lessons  to  mankind,  I  think  I  should  hardly  do  my 
duty  which  I  owe  to  my  fellow  men,  was  I  to  suppress  it. 

From  that  autobiography,  commenced  Jan.  12, 1790, 
which  was  afterward  deposited  in  the  Philadelphia  Li- 
brary, we  take  the  greater  part  of  the  curious  and 
interesting  facts  which  will  be  related  in  these  pages. 

The  Fitch  family  were  supposed,  by  the  descendant 
whose  eventful  story  is  about  to  be  told,  to  be  of  Saxon 
origin.  Thomas  Fitch,  the  great-great-grandfather  of 
John  Fitch,  became  by  descent  the  proprietor  of  an 
estate  near  Brantry  [Braintree]  in  Essex,  England, 


28  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  after,  it  is  presumed,  an  honest  and  peaceful  life, 
died,  leaving  five  sons.  Those  descendants  left  Eng- 
land shortly  after  their  father's  death,  and  emigrated 
to  New  England,  bringing  their  mother  •with  them. 
Joseph  Fitch,  the  great-grandfather  of  John  Fitch, 
purchased  one-twentieth  part  of  the  township  of  Wind- 
sor, Hartford  County,  in  the  Province  of  Connecticut.1 
He  had  three  sons  —  Joseph,  Nathaniel,  and  Samuel. 
The  two  latter  died  unmarried,  after  having  wasted 
their  estates.  Their  brother  Joseph  patterned  after 
their  improvidence,  but  did  not  adopt  their  views  as  to 
the  benefits  of  celibacy.  He  married,  had  two  sons, 
Joseph  and  John,  and  died  insolvent,  leaving  his  chil- 
dren to  the  charity  of  the  world.  Joseph  Fitch,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  our  biography,  was  brought  up 
in  an  industrious  and  affluent  family  settled  at  Hart- 
ford, where  he  was  taught  to  read,  write,  and  cipher. 
His  studies  were  of  such  a  nature  that  he  acquired  a 
taste  for  astronomy,  mathematics,  and  natural  philoso- 
phy, in  none  of  which  he  attained  any  brilliant  profi- 
ciency. In  due  time  he  married  Sarah  Shaler,  of  Bol- 
ton,  an  active,  enterprising,  good  woman.  During  her 
life  there  were  born  to  this  couple  three  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

John  Fitch  was  the  fifth  child,  and  was  ushered  into 
what  to  him  was  a  world  of  misfortune,  on  the  21st  of 

1  In  Holmes' American  Annals,  Vol.  I.,  page  378,  it  is  said  : — 
"The  township  of  Norwich,  in  Connecticut,  having  been  pur- 
chased [1660]  of  the  natives,  the  Kev.  James  Fitch,  with  the 
principal  part  of  the  Church  and  congregation,  removed  from 
Saybrook,  and  planted  that  town."  It  is  probable  that  this 
James  Fitch  was  a  brother  of  the  Joseph  Fitch  here  spoken  of. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  29 

January,  1743,  old  style.  The  house  where  his  parents 
resided  was  situate,  upon  the  boundary  line  between 
the  townships  of  Windsor  and  Hartford ;  but,  as  the 
greater  part  of  the  dwelling  was  in  Windsor,  John  al- 
ways understood  that  his  birthplace  was  in  the  latter. 
When  the  boy  was  about  four  years  old  he  was  sent 
to  "  a  dame  school,"  maintained  by  a  tax  on  the  resi- 
dents of  the  township.  Mrs.  Rockwell,  the  mistress, 
found  in  young  Fitch  no  inapt  scholar,  and  during  the  first 
summer  he  learned  to  spell  such  words  as  "  Command- 
ment" and  "Jerusalem"  with  facility.  Whilst  at  this 
school  he  met  with  his  first  great  misfortune.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  about  four  years  and  eight 
months  old.  The  children  of  the  family  then  were 
Joseph,  Augustus,  Sarah,  Anne,  John,  and  Chloe.  The 
bereaved  father  soon  found  the  management  of  this 
progeny  to  be  a  task  which  he  was  incompetent  to  dis- 
charge with  propriety,  and  he  accordingly  turned  his 
attention  to  the  serious  business  of  wooing  a  second 
wife.  His  choice  was  determined  by  prudence,  and  it 
fell  upon  Abigail  Church,  of  Hartford,  a  maiden  lady, 
who  was  "an  orderly,  easy-tempered,  good  woman," 
and  "had  some  little  property."  *>•-.{« 

During  the  time  of  the  courtship,  John  was  kept  at 
school,  where  his  advancement  was  satisfactory.  His 
father  was  necessarily  and  frequently  away  from  home 
whilst  engaged  in  "  paying  attentions"  to  Miss  Church, 
and  the  house,  during  such  expeditions,  seems  to 
have  been  left  in  the  charge  of  the  children.  Upon 
one  of  those  occasions,  after  John  had  returned  from 
school,  it  being  near  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  he  and 
his  youngest  sister,  Chloe,  were  alone  in  the  house. 
3* 


30  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

Augustus  and  Sarah  were  in  the  barnyard  milking  the 
cows.  Chloe  had  some  important  little  secret  to  tell 
her  brother  —  having  received  some  gift  during  the  day 
which  she  wished  to  show  him.  Lighting  a  candle,  she 
went  with  it  to  the  far  side  of  the  room,  and  while 
searching  for  the  present,  unfortunately  set  fire  to  two 
bundles  of  flax  which  were  upon  the  floor.  The  in- 
flammable material  started  into  a  blaze.  Little  John 
seeing  it,  ran  and  seized  one  of  the  burning  bundles, 
which  was  so  heavy  that  he  could  only  carry  it  by  rest- 
ing it  against  his  knees.  He  conveyed  it  in  this  man- 
ner to  the  chimney,  and  cast  it  down  on  the  hearth, 
his  hands  being  sadly  burned,  and  his  hair  on  fire. 
The  latter  he  quenched,  and  then  seized  the  second 
bundle,  which  was  also  ablaze,  and  put  it  on  the  hearth, 
where  he  tramped  out  the  fire  until  it  was  extinguished. 
"Whilst  he  was  engaged  in  this  heroism,  his  sister,  af- 
frighted, had  fled  to  the  barnyard,  where,  in  her  agita- 
tion, she  must  have  said  something  which  was  misun- 
derstood. Whilst  little  Johnny  was  yet  smoking,  his 
hair  nearly  singed  off  his  head,  his  hands  and  feet 
blistered  arid  smarting,  and  his  eyes  full  of  dust  and 
cinders,  his  brother  Augustus  rushed  in,  and,  without 
asking  a  word  of  explanation,  fell  upon  the  young  hero, 
boxed  his  ears  and  beat  him  most  severely.  This  was 
the  reward  for  his  bravery.  He  felt  the  injustice  which 
was  done  him,  and,  on  his  father's  return,  made  com- 
plaint, but  received  no  redress.  This  incident  seemed 
to  him  in  after  years  to  be  the  first  in  a  career  in  which 
his  efforts  to  do  good  were  misunderstood  and  pun- 
ished, instead  of  being  rewarded.  At  a  later  period, 
after  having  labored  to  convince  his  countrymen  of  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  31 

value  of  the  steamboat,  and  receiving  nothing  but  dis- 
trust, indifference,  and  the  punishment  of  poverty  and 
neglect,  he  reverted  to  this  childish  occurrence,  as  if  to 
show  that  a  malignant  fate  had  pursued  him  almost 
from  his  infancy.  "This,  sir,"  says  he,  addressing  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Irwin,  "being  what  I  may  call  the  first  act 
of  my  life,  seemed  to  forebode  the  future  rewards  I 
was  to  receive  for  my  labors  through  life,  which  have 
generally  corresponded  exactly  with  that." 

About  two  years  after  the  death  of  the  mother  of 
John,  his  father  having  won  the  affections  of  Miss 
Church,  brought  her  home  and  established  her  in  the 
position  of  wife,  and  ruler  over  the  destinies  of  her 
step-children.  The  change,  as  it  often  happens,  soon 
produced  some  alteration  in  the  family.  Joseph  and 
Augustus  were  apprenticed  to  learn  trades ;  Sarah 
was  married  at  sixteen  years  of  age ;  Anne  was  most 
of  the  time  with  her  uncle,  John  Fitch,  in  Massachu- 
setts ;  so  that,  generally,  there  were  only  at  home,  the 
father,  his  wife,  and  John  and  Chloe.  After  Joseph 
had  been  away  for  a  year  he  returned.  He  had  learned 
to  be  a  cooper,  and  set  up  that  business  at  his  father's 
house.  John  was  permitted  to  go  to  school  until  he 
was  about  ten  years  of  age,  being  subject,  however,  to 
many  demands  for  his  services,  and  being  required  to 
relinquish  his  studies  during  busy  seasons,  whenever 
his  father  thought  it  would  be  more  for  his  benefit  to 
employ  his  son  at  home.  Joseph  Fitch  was  a  stern, 
close  man,  who  lived  in  rigid  economy,  and  had  but 
little  liberality  of  principle  where  the  happiness  of 
others  ought  to  have  been  consulted.  He  was  very 
economical,  and  spent  but  little  upon  self-indulgence. 


32  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

His  son  says  of  him,  however,  in  a  tone  of  thankful- 
ness, or  admiration,  it  is  difficult  to  determine  which, 
that  he  had  "  always  plenty  of  victuals  in  the  house," 
and  was  "never  out  of  cider  but  two  weeks,"  during 
all  the  time  that  he  lived  with  him.  Little  John  be- 
came at  school  "  quite  a  scholar."  Before  he  was  ten 
years  old  he  "  could  say  the  New  England  primer  all 
by  heart,  from  'Adam's  fall'  to  the  end  of  the  cate- 
chism."- There  was  at  his  father's  house  an  old  copy 
of  Hodder's  arithmetic,  which  he  got  hold  of  and  studied 
•without  assistance.  He  had  a  natural  aptitude  for 
figures,  and  when  nine  years  of  age  had  mastered 
addition,  subtraction,  multiplication,  and  division,  and 
could  tell  "how  many  minutes  old"  he  would  be  when 
he  reached  ten  years  of  age.  He  had  now  become  a 
great  enthusiast,  and  describes  himself  as  "almost 
crazy  for  learning."  Yet  his  father  took  him  from 
school  and  put  him  to  work,  although  he  was  so  small 
that  he  could  not  swingle  more  than  two  pounds  of 
flax,  or  thresh  more  than  two  bushels  of  grain  in  a  day. 
For  this  "  pitiful,  trifling  labor"  he  was  deprived  of  the 
benefit  of  education,  which  he  looked  upon  as  a  serious 
piece  of  injustice.  Yet,  he  observed,  in  reference  to 
his  father's  conduct,  "  There  was  a  great  deal  to  plead 
for  him.  He  was  educated  a  rigid  Christian  bigot,  a 
most  strenuous  Presbyterian,  and  carried  it  to  such 
excess,  that  I  dare  not  go  in  the  garden  to  pick  cur- 
rants, or  in  the  orchard  to  pick  up  an  apple  on  the 
Sabbath,  and  he  probably  thought  that  the  extent  of 
his  duty  towards  me  was  to  teach  me  how  to  read  the 
Bible,  that  I  might  find  the  way  to  heaven,  and  when 
he  had  done  that  he  felt  perfectly  easy,  and  if  I  could 


LIFE    OF    JO  UN    FITCH.  33 

earn  him  2c?  per  day,  it  ought  not  to  be  lost."  Still 
his  father  did  not  prevent  him  from  studying  at  home, 
lie  was  at  his  book  mornings  and  evenings,  was  a  very 
zealous  student,  and  got  through  Hodder  as  far  as 
"Alligation  Alternate." 

When  he  was  about  eleven  years  old  he  heard  of  a 
book  which  would  give  him  "  information  of  the  whole 
world."  This  treasure  was  Salmon's  Geography.  He 
asked  his  father  to  buy  it  for  him,  but  the  investment 
was  greater  than  his  frugality  would  allow  him  to  in- 
dulge in.  In  this  emergency  John  cast  about  for  some 
means  to  raise  money  sufficient  to  purchase  it.  Having 
hit  upon  a  plan,  he  requested  of  his  father  permission 
to  plant  potatoes  on  some  headlands  on  the  farm,  and 
obtained  the  desired  license.  On  a  training  day,  when 
all  others  who  had  time  were  enjoying  themselves  at 
the  muster,  this  little  farmer  devoted  his  holiday  to 
the  task  of  digging  up  the  ground  and  planting  his 
stock.  He  cultivated  this  small  patch  through  the 
season,  at  noon,  and  after  his  regular  work  was  done 
in  the  evening.  The  result  of  the  adventure  was  the 
growth  of  several  bushels  of  potatoes,  which  were  sold 
in  the  fall  for  ten  shillings.  A  merchant  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, who  was  going  to  New  York,  engaged  to 
buy  the  coveted  book,  but  when  he  purchased  it  the 
cost  was  twelve  shillings,  leaving  the  poor  little  fellow 
two  shillings  in  debt,  a  vast  and  troublesome  obligation  ; 
in  addition  to  which  his  frugal  father  called  upon  him 
to  return  potato-seed  equal  to  the  quantity  originally 
loaned  him  to  plant.  Good  luck  soon  enabled  him  to 
discharge  this  heavy  debt.  He  studied  his  prize  with 
intense  energy,  and  in  a  short  time  was  "  the  best 


34  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

geographer,  according  to  Salmon,  -which  Connecticut 
could  produce."  No  question  could  be  asked  him  about 
any  nation,  its  situation,  population,  boundaries,  chief 
towns,  &c.,  which  he  could  not  answer  "  according  to 
Salmon." 

Having  now  attained  some  geographical  knowledge, 
and  having  been  instructed  by  his  father  in  surveying, 
as  far  as  he  himself  understood  it,  the  young  Fitch 
began  to  have  considerable  conceit  of  his  abilities.  A 
very  amusing  exemplification  of  his  self-sufficiency  had 
been  given  before  that  time.  Among  the  neighbors 
of  the  Fitch  family,  was  his  Excellency,  Governor 
Roger  Wolcott,  father  of  Oliver  Wolcott,  afterwards  a 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and 
governor  of  Connecticut.  He  had  a  piece  of  meadow 
land  adjoining  the  Fitch  farm,  and  sometimes  during 
mowing  time,  would  come  beneath  the  shade  of  the 
trees  where  the  laborers  were  resting.  John  was  a 
pert,  forward,  smart  little  boy,  and  the  governor  having 
some  pieces  of  land  to  apportion  off,  requested  the 
father  that  he  would  allow  his  son  to  carry  the  chain 
for  him  while  making  the  surveys.  The  youngster  was 
hugely  flattered  at  this  honor,  and  his  good  opinion 
of  himself  was  much  enhanced  by  the  deference  which 
Governor  Wolcott  paid  to  his  suggestions.  He  con- 
sulted him  upon  all  doubtful  points,  and  seemed  to 
adopt  all  his  recommendations  without  hesitation  as  to 
their  correctness.  They  surveyed  several  small  tracts 
lying  upon  the  Podunck  river,  a  very  crooked  stream. 
John,  being  expert  in  "  Hodder,"  was  ready  in  his 
calculations  of  the  parts  left  out  by  the  tortuous  cha- 
racter of  the  watery  boundary,  and  in  estimating  what 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  35 

ought  to  be  taken  in  to  reduce  the  whole  to  square 
measure.  As  a  specimen  of  the  operations  of  the  boy 
of  eleven  years  old,  with  the  great  man  who  had 
honored  him  with  his  confidence,  the  following  is  told. 
"  He  asked  me,"  said  Fitch,  "  how  we  should  go  square 
across  the  end  that  we  did  not  go  out  or  in,  but  square 
oft'  with  the  lines  the  first  run."  I  instantly  told  him 
thus : — 

"  As  we  had  a  four  pole  chain,  that  we  -would  begin  at  the 
bush  at  the  corner,  and  measure  off  two  poles  upon  the  trail  that 
•we  had  made  through  the  grass,  and  for  him  to  hold  one  end  of 
the  chain  at  that  place,  and  I  would  walk  round  with  the  other 
end  through  the  grass,  and  then  he  should  hold  the  other  end  at 
the  bush,  whilst  I  trampled  the  grass  in  another  circle,  and  one 
pole  from  where  the  grass  was  trampled  both  ways  would  be  a 
square  from  the  first  line.  The  old  gentleman  indulged  me  in 
this  experiment,  but  what  his  views  were  I  don't  know,  but  I 
did  it  on  the  same  principles  that  I  now  raise  a  perpendicular 
on  paper,  but  did  not  know  at  that  time  a  single  geometrical 
problem,  and  he  laid  off  the  end  line  according  to  my  perpen- 
dicular. There  was  another  thing  which  has  ever  been  a  mys- 
tery to  me.  We  had  measured  off  one  piece  for  one  Isaac 
Morton,  which  was  to  contain  one  acre,  and  it  happened  to  be 
just  thirty  poles  in  length.  lie  asked  me  'how  wide  we  should 
go  to  make  one  acre.'  I  readily  answered,  'six  rode.'  He 
seemed  to  doubt,  or  rather  question  with  me  if  I  was  right.  I 
positively  asserted  that  I  was,  and  told  him  that  '  40  rods  long 
and  4  rods  wide  was  an  acre,  and  20  rods  long  and  8  rods  wide 
was  an  acre,  and  that  30  and  6  was  a  medium  between  the  two.' 
The  old  gentleman  laid  it  out  agreeably  to  my  direction.  In 
this  I  honestly  cheated  him,  but  did  not  know  it  till  some  years 
after.  I  can  impute  it  to  nothing  but  an  oversight  in  him,  as  his 
abilities  as  a  surveyor  cannot  be  doubted." 

The  job    of  surveying   thus   commenced,   was   not 
completed  upon  that  day.     The  Governor  left  his  chain 


36  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

with  little  John,  and  gave  him  directions  how  to  lay 
out  some  other  pieces  of  ground,  which  task  was  com- 
pleted by  the  young  surveyor  entirely  to  his  own  satis- 
faction. When  the  Governor  came  to  the  house  of  the 
father  to  receive  the  chain,  the  hoy  proudly  produced 
it  with  the  notes  of  his  work,  and  was  not  unreasonable 
in  expecting  some  remuneration  for  his  labor ;  but  the 
Governor  coolly  received  the  chain  as  a  matter  of  right, 
placed  it  in  his  saddle-bag,  and  without  deigning  to 
notice  his  fellow-laborer,  or  even  to  thank  him  for  his 
trouble,  rode  away  with  much  dignity.  This  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  the  young  associate ;  but  he 
solaced  himself  with  the  thought  that  he  ought  to  have 
expected  such  treatment.  Gov.  Wolcott  was  a  pru- 
dent man,  and  very  careful  of  the  means  which  he  pos- 
sessed. This  disposition  had  already  been  proved  by 
an  incident  which  happened  some  time  before,  the 
memory  of  which  was  preserved  in  the  Fitch  family, 
as  a  perpetual  monitor  of  the  niggardly  disposition  of 
the  Governor.  At  that  period,  it  was  the  custom,  in 
Connecticut,  to  make  the  mending  of  roads  a  township 
affair,  and  the  assistance  of  all  able-bodied  residents 
was  demanded  at  certain  times  for  that  purpose.  It 
was  a  constant  practice  of  the  road-repairing  parties 
to  keep  a  sufficient  store  of  New  England  rum  for  the 
solace  of  themselves  and  travellers.  The  latter  were 
always  requested  to  take  a  drink  whenever  they  reached 
the  place  where  the  road-menders  were  stationed.  It 
jvas  a  portion  of  the  etiquette  of  such  occasions,  that 
the  invitations  should  always  be  accepted ;  and  it  was 
equally  a  trait  of  good  manners  to  recompense  the 
voluntary  hosts  for  the  liberality  which  they  thus  exer- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  37 

cised.  It  -was  a  rare  thing  in  any  one  to  disregard 
such  requests  ;  and  it  was  considered  mean  for  a  person 
to  pass  on  without  making  some  contribution  to  re- 
plenish the  bottle.  It  once  happened,  when  Joseph 
Fitch,  with  many  others,  were  mending  the  highway 
near  the  farm,  that  Gov.  Wolcott,  majestically  arrayed 
in  scarlet,  was  passing  along  on  his  way  to  Hartford. 
The  bottle  was  tendered  him,  and  he  did  not  refuse  it, 
but,  taking  a  generous  dram,  recompensed  the  expect- 
ant hosts  who  looked  for  a  liberal  donation,  with  a 
single  copper.  The  circumstance  so  chagrined  Joseph, 
that  he  was  determined  to  make  visible  commemoration 
of  the  paltry  gift.  He  took  the  farthing  to  his  fa- 
ther's house,  and  punched  a  hole  in  it.  He  got  a  post 
and  set  it  firmly  in  the  ground  on  the  edge  of  the  road  ; 
and,  procuring  a  scarlet  rag  to  make  it  more  conspicu- 
ous, nailed  the  copper  and  the  rag  to  the  post,  as  a 
memento  of  the  Governor's  avarice,  and  as  a  hint  to 
other  travellers  that  they  were  expected  to  pay  more 
liberally  for  their  rum.  "  This,"  said  John  Fitch,  many 
years  afterward,  "was  a  mean  way  of  getting  money, 
but  the  Governor  took  an  improper  way  to  suppress  it, 
and  one  which  was  very  imprudent  in  the  first  officer 
of  the  government."  The  circumstance  certainly 
proved  that  he  was  very  careful  of  his  wealth,  and  it 
explained  very  satisfactorily  the  reason  why  the  boy, 
who  had  been  so  useful  to  him  in  surveying,  received 
no  pecuniary  acknowledgment. 

The  situation  of  the  lad  at  this  time  was  very  un- 
comfortable. He  had  a  strong  desire  to  acquire  know- 
ledge ;  but  with  this  disposition  there  was  little  sym- 
pathy. His  father  and  brother  were  more  anxious  that 


38  LIFE    OF    JO  if  X    FITCH. 

he  should  work  in  the  field  than  go  to  school  and  study. 
His  labors  were  severe,  and  so  heavy  that  he  ascribed 
his  weak  and  stunted  condition  to  them.  He  was  small 
boned  and  diminutive — a  condition  of  body  which  con- 
tinued until  he  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  he  "started  up  all  at  once,"  (without  giving  nature 
time  to.consult  herself,)  into  a  disproportioned  shape. 
When  he  was  about  thirteen  years  of  age,  his  father 
so  far  relaxed  his  stern  demands  upon  him  for  labor, 
that  he  permitted  him  to  go  to  school  for  about  six 
weeks.  In  that  time  he  got  through  the  arithmetic, 
and  -had  learned  all  that  the  school-master  could 
teach  of  mathematics.  The  latter  suggested  that  he 
would  instruct  the  boy  in  surveying,  if  the  proper  in- 
struments were  procured.  The  demand  for  the  neces- 
sary outlay  was  not  agreeable  to  the  father  of  John ; 
but,  after  earnest  solicitation,  he  consented  to  make 
the  advance,  he  went  to  Hartford,  and  procured  a 
scale  and  dividers,  which  were  received  by  his  son  with 
warm  expressions  of  gratitude.  With  these  simple  im- 
plements he  became  proficient,  in  two  weeks,  in  what 
was  then  called  surveying  in  New  England.  But  he 
learned  "nothing  of  logarithms,  or  of  calculation  by 
latitude  and  departure,  but  only  geometrically." 

This  was  the  last  opportunity  of  studying  allowed 
him  by  his  family.  He  wished  to  perfect  himself  in 
the  science  of  astronomy,  but  that  taste  met  with  no 
encouragement.  Foiled  in  his  most  ardent  wishes,  he 
became  at  length  discouraged,  and,  abandoning  Ijig 
books,  fell  gradually  into  the  ways  of  boys  of  his  own 
age,  and  devoted  to  play  such  hours  as  were  permitted 
him  to  abstain  from  labor,  and  which  formerly  he  had 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  39 

diligently  dedicated  to  study.  "When  he  was  about 
fifteen  years  old,  his  father  hired  him  out  one  winter 
to  Roswell  Mills,  for  eleven  shillings  a  month.  Mills 
kept  a  large  country  store  at  Simsbury,  in  Hartford 
County.  The  principal  article  of  payment  for  the 
goods  sold  to  customers  was  pork,  of  which  large 
quantities  were  received.  Here  the  boy  served  faith- 
fully, and  acquired  the  friendship  of  Mr.  Mills,  who, 
afterwards  abandoning  store-keeping,  took  up  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law  at  Windsor. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen,  John  became  heartily  dis- 
gusted with  the  farm  labor  which  had  been  imposed 
on  him.  He  was  desirous  of  obtaining  some  other  em- 
ployment, but  was  undecided  whether  he  should  go  to 
sea,  or  become  an  apprentice  to  learn  some  trade.  On 
a  day,  when  all  the  residents  of  the  parish,  who  were 
supposed  to  be  able  to  work,  were  invited  to  assist  in 
raising  a  new  and  stately  meeting-house  at  Windsor, 
Fitch,  who  was  affronted  by  not  receiving  an  invitation 
to  participate,  procured  a  horse  and  rode  over  to  Rocky 
Hill,  on  the  Connecticut  river,  at  which  place  a  num- 
ber of  coasting  vessels  were  usually  to  be  found.  Here 
he  made  an  agreement  with  one  Captain  Abbott,  to  go 
with  him  upon  a  voyage  to  New  York.  Returning 
home,  he  secured  all  the  money  which  he  possessed, 
about  three  shillings,  and,  informing  his  father  of  his 
determination,  was  presented  with  twenty  shillings  and 
his  blessing.  His  experience  on  board  the  craft  be- 
longing to  Capt.  Abbott  was  not  of  a  nature  to  add  to 
any  happy  anticipations  which  he  might  have  had  of 
the  pleasures  of  a  life  upon  a  vessel.  The  mate,  one 
Starr,  treated  him  with  roughness.  He  would  not  per- 


40  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

mit  him  to  sleep  at  night  in  a  berth,  although  some  in 
the  craft  were  vacant,  but  compelled  him  to  slumber 
on  a  chest  much  shorter  than  he  was,  and  without  co- 
vering. The  next  day  he  was  abused  and  beaten  by 
this  ruffian,  and  at  night  again  banished  to  his  chest. 
This  treatment  was  sufficient  to  admonish  him  as  to 
what  he  might  expect  during  the  voyage ;  and,  as  the 
vessel  still  laid  at  Rocky  Hill,  he  quitted  it  on  the 
second  day,  and  engaged  himself  with  one  Capt.  Ebens, 
who  was  bound  for  Rhode  Island.  By  the  latter  he 
was  treated  with  some  humanity,  and  had  nothing  to 
complain  of.  They  met  with  a  severe  storm  in  Provi- 
dence, much  to  the  discomfort  of  the  young  voyager, 
wrho,  during  its  continuance,  had  no  sanguine  hope  of 
safety.  Capt.  Ebens  went  to  Providence  and  Newport, 
and  after  having  been  away  five  weeks,  John  returned 
to  Rocky  Hill,  and  sought  his  father's  house. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  41 

CHAPTER    II. 

APPRENTICESHIP.  —  MANHOOD.  — MARRIAGE. 

PLEASED  with  the  experience  gained  by  his  voyage, 
the  youth  was  undecided  whether  to  go  sea  again,  or 
to  endeavor  to  procure  a  place  at  which  he  might  learn 
a  trade.  Whilst  the  settlement  of  this  question  was 
yet  in  abeyance,  he  was  sent  to  mill  with  a  load  of 
grain.  At  the  cross-roads  he  met  Benjamin  Cheany 
and  wife,  who  told  him  that  they  wanted  just  such  a 
boy  as  he  to  learn  the  clockmaking  business.  The 
idea  was  agreeable  to  him,  and  a  few  days  afterward 
he  called  upon  Cheany  in  reference  to  the  subject. 
The  result  of  the  conference  satisfied  him  that  his  ser- 
vices were  wanted  to  cultivate  the  farm  rather  than  to 
assist  in  the  workshop.  This  Avas  not  what  he  desired; 
but,  being  anxious  not  to  miss  the  opportunity,  he  de- 
clared that  he  would  have  no  objection  to  work  upon 
the  farm  some  little  time,  if  the  precise  period  was 
specified  in  the  indenture.  Cheany  proposed  that  six 
months  in  every  year  should  be  given  to  farm  labor. 
This  was  not  what  should  have  been  granted;  "but," 
said  Fitch,  "being  too  conceited  that  I  could  learn  a 
trade  in  a  short  time,  if  I  only  had  the  first  principles 
of  it,  and  an  expectation  that  my  master  would  not 
call  me  off  half  that  time  from  my  trade,  I  agreed  to 
his  proposal." 

Liberal  as  this  concession  was,  it  was  not  equal  to 
Cheany's  desire,   as  his  apprentice   soon   discovered. 
4* 


42  LIFE    OF    JO  UN    FITCH.' 

The  indentures  were  executed  when  John  Fitch  was 
about  eighteen  years  old,  and  by  their  terms  he  Avas  to 
have  instruction  in  clockmaking  during  seven  months 
of  each  year.  It  was  one  of  the  stipulations  of  the 
contract,  that  the  boy  should  find  his  own  clothing. 
This  proposition  had  caused  some  difficulty  during  the 
family  consultation.  His  father  and  step-mother  ob- 
jected to  such  an  agreement,  and  the  whole  business 
was  in  danger  of  failure.  In  this  dilemma,  Timothy 
King,  of  Windsor,  who  had  married  Sarah  Fitch,  de- 
termined to  aid  his  young  brother-in-law.  He  agreed 
to  furnish  John  with  clothing,  trusting  that  he  would 
pay  him  when  able.  A  new  trouble  arose  in  conse- 
quence of  the  father  of  John  desiring  his  services  dur- 
ing three  weeks  of  harvest  time.  This  demand  occa- 
sioned a  serious  dispute,  which  nearly  broke  off  the 
arrangement,  and  was  only  quieted  by  Cheany's  yielding 
to  the  request.  The  youth  was  now  installed  in  his 
place  with  this  couple,  whose  dispositions  were  not  very 
liberal.  Cheany  had  many  oddities,  and  was  in  per- 
son deformed  from  the  effect  of  rickets  in  his  youth, 
which,  among  other  marks  of  its  power,  had  left  its 
victim  with  an  immense  head,  double  the  usual  size. 
The  mistress  was  weak  and  penurious,  and  kept  the 
apprentice  in  a  state  of  semi-starvation,  his  appetite 
seldom  being  fully  satisfied.  As  an  example  of  the 
household  economy  of  this  prudent  couple,  Fitch  re- 
cords an  anecdote : 

"In  my  second  year  my  master  bought  four  sheep, 
and  from  the  flesh  of  one  of  them  my  mistress  made  some 
broth  in  a  large  iron  pot,  with  beans.  It  was  as  good 
u,  pot  of  broth  as  perhaps  was  ever  made  in  the  parish." 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  48 

Of  this  he  ate  heartily  for  some  days,  always  twice, 
and  occasionally  three  times.  After  persevering  with 
this  food  for  a  week,  he  became  somewhat  tired  of  it, 
and  sighed  for  variety.  He  now,  hoping  to  get  rid  of 
it,  complained  that  it  was  "too  salt."  This  fault  was 
one  which  the  liberal  Mrs.  Cheany  was  willing  to  cor- 
rect ;  and  she  accordingly  added  sufficient  water  to 
visibly  increase  the  quantity.  Such  a  favor  was  not 
desired  by  the  apprentice ;  but  he  continued  at  the 
soup  with  a  stout  heart  until  it  was  nine  days  old  :  "but 
finding,"  said  he,  "that  no  one  eat  it  but  myself,  and 
that  it  rather  increased  on  my  hands,  I  got  almost  dis- 
heartened, and  on  the  tenth  day  eat  but  a  very  little, 
and  on  the  eleventh  day  eat  none,  but  a  piece  of  dry 
bread  only.  On  the  twelfth  day,  after  many  com- 
plaints, and  expatiating  on  its  loss  by  its  being  thrown 
away,  it  was  finally  condemned  to  the  hogwash,  which 
sacrifice  I  thought  but  just ;  nor  did  I  ever  think  that 
the  gods  were  offended  at  it." 

It  was  not  the  desire  of  Cheany  that  his  apprentice 
should  really  learn  anything  about  the  business  speci- 
fied in  the  indentures.  He  wanted  him  to  labor  in  the 
field,  and  in  the  course  of  two  years  he  had  succeeded 
in  getting  from  him  more  work  of  that  kind  than  by 
the  agreement  was  to  have  been  done  in  three  years. 
Beside  that,  his  business  was  but  small,  his  labors  being 
principally  in  repairing  wooden  clocks.  Even  of  this 
branch  of  the  trade  he  contrived  to  keep  John  in  igno- 
rance. He  paid  but  little  attention  to  the  indentures, 
and  kept  the  lad  "almost  the  whole  of  the  time  at  tri- 
fling, pottering  brass  work,"  and  the  latter  was,  when 
he  left  him,  "almost  totally  ignorant  of  clock  work." 


44  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

During  the  time  lie  was  in  his  house,  young  Fitch  kept 
a  regular  account  of  the  days  and  half  days  during 
•which  he  was  called  out  of  the  shop  into  the  field.  He 
showed  this  account  to  his  master  at  one  time  when  he 
was  desired  to  leave  something  which  he  was  doing,  to 
labor  on  the  farm.  Cheany  was  surprised  at  the  state- 
ment, and  was  much  affronted  at  it.  After  John  had 
been  with  him  two  years  and  a  half,  Benjamin,  finding 
that  he  would  work  no  more  in  the  field,  having  ex- 
hausted that  term  of  service,  suggested  that  his  brother 
Timothy,  who  followed  brass  and  wooden  clock  mak- 
ing and  the  repairing  of  watches,  would  be  a  much 
better  person  than  himself  to  teach  the  youth  all  the 
branches  of  the  trade,  which  he  wished  to  learn.  This 
suggestion  was  listened  to,  and  arrangements  were 
made  to  transfer  the  young  man  to  the  new  place.  He 
was  now  over  twenty  years  of  age,  and,  although  he 
had  spent  thirty  months  under  the  instruction  of  Ben- 
jamin Cheany,  he  did  not  know  how  to  make  either  a 
wooden  or  brass  clock.  It  was  with  a  hope  that  he 
would  be  enabled  to  make  up  for  lost  time,  that  he 
went  to  his  master's  brother.  It^was  agreed  that  he 
should  stay  with  him  for  a  year ;  and,  as  he  would  be 
of  full  age  before  that  time,  his  father  gave  a  bond  to 
Timothy  Cheany  that  John  would  serve  faithfully  after 
he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  This  instrument  was 
executed  June  8th,  1763.  Fitch  was  to  be  taught 
brass  and  wooden  clock  making,  and  watch  making. 
The  wife  of  Timothy  Cheany  was  a  sister  of  the  wife 
of  Benjamin,  and  was  "a  pretty,  sensible,  good  kind 
of  a  woman."  The  first  disagreeable  experience  which 
the  new  apprentice  encountered  was  in  reference  to  his 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  45 

food.  In  this  family  the  abstemious  person  was  the 
master.  "He  was  a  very  small  feeder.  He  seldom 
or  ever  sat  down  without  exclaiming  against  gluttony. 
The  family  always  eat  as  "  quick  as  him,  but  had 
victuals  to  command.  When  Cheany  was  through,  he 
started  up  and  returned  God  thanks  for  what  we  had 
eaten ;  or,  I  believe  I  may  say,  because  I  had  eaten 
no  more."  In  this  place  the  subject  of  our  history 
learned  to  eat  very  fast,  so  that  he  was  after  a  while 
able  to  "nearly  get  a  bellyful  between  prayers." 

The  hope  which  had  been  indulged  that  he  might 
here  at  least  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the  branches  of 
trade  which  he  was  desirous  of  learning,  was  cruelly 
disappointed.  He  was  kept  at  brass  work  from  early 
sunrise  to  ten  o'clock  at  night,  but  he  was  not  taught 
anything  relating  to  clock  work  or  watch  work.  In 
reference  to  the  manner  in  which  he  was  treated,  he 
said,  many  years  after :  "  I  never  saw  a  watch  put  to- 
gether during  my  apprenticeship.  When  I  attempted 
to  stand  by  to  see  him  put  one  together,  he  would  order 
me  to  my  work.  I  seldom  got  to  see  any  of  his  tools 
for  watch  work;  they  were  kept  locked  up  in  his 
drawer.  He  never  told  me  the  different  parts  of  a 
watch,  and  to  this  day  I  am  ignorant  of  many  parts  by 
name.  He  never  permitted  me  to  turn  a  piece  of  iron 
or  brass  in  his  shop."  In  eight  months'  service  Fitch 
had  not  been  taught  how  to  complete  a  single  clock. 
He  had  commenced  one,  but  was  not  allowed  to  finish  it. 
He  worried  through  these  months  of  injustice  until 
after  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  had  a 
controversy  with  Timothy  about  the  treatment  which 
he  received.  A  quarrel  ensued.  Fitch  threatened  to 


46  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

seek  redress  by  law,  but,  finally,  it  was  agreed  that  lie 
should  be  released  from  further  service,  on  payment 
of  £8.  He  set  out  to  his  father's  house  to  find  the 
means  to  secure  the  payment  of  this  amount.  The 
feelings  of  the  young  man  as  he  trudged  homeward 
may  be  faintly  imagined.  He  had  "  learned  his  trade," 
according  to  the  belief  of  the  world,  but  he  knew 
nothing.  He  was  a  clockmaker  who  had  never  made 
a  clock,  a  watchmaker  who  had  never  taken  a  watch 
apart  or  put  one  together,  and  who  had  never  seen  the 
tools  necessary  for  such  delicate  operations.  The  por- 
tion of  his  life  most  necessary  to  enable  him  to  get 
forward  in  the  world  had  been  utterly  wasted.  No 
wonder  that  his  heart  was  heavy  as  he  thought  of  this 
injustice.  He  said,  "I  saw  the  cruelties  with  which  I 
was  treated — the  wickedness  of  the  man — the  dilemma 
which  I  had  brought  myself  into  by  running  myself  in 
debt  three  years,  to  wear  out  them  clothes  for  mon- 
sters, and  £8  more  added  to  it,  and  I  sat  out  for  home 
and  cried  the  whole  distance,  and  doubt  not  but  nearly 
as  much  water  came  from  my  eyes  that  day  as  what  I 
drank." 

When  he  got  home  he  was  ashamed  to  represent  the 
case  as  it  really  was,  for  fear  of  being  sent  back.  He 
therefore  concealed  the  extent  of  his  ignorance  of  his 
business,  and  represented  himself  to  have  been  badly 
treated.  His  brother-in-law,  Timothy  King,  and  his 
brother,  Augustus,  gave  their  joint  note  to  Cheany, 
and  took  up  the  bond  of  their  father. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  John  Fitch  now  found 
himself  at  liberty,  having  but  a  limited  knowledge  of 
brass  working,  and  without  skill  as  a  clockmaker  or 


LIFE    OF    JO  UN    FITCH.  47 

•watchmaker.  His  clothing  was  scant,  he  was  in  debt 
£20,  and  could  not  work  at  journey-work  in  the  trades 
which  he  was  reputed  to  have  learned,  for  fear  of 
showing  his  ignorance.  He  resolved  to  set  himself  up 
as  an  artificer  in  small  brass  work  ;  but  how  was  he  to 
to  obtain  capital  ?  At  that  time,  one  Reuben  Burnham 
was  courting  his  sister  Chloe.  This  young  man  lent 
him  twenty  shillings,  and  with  that  small  capital  and 
some  credit,  he  commenced  business.  His  father,  with 
more  liberality  than  could  have  been  expected  from 
him,  offered  him  board  and  lodging  for  one  month 
without  charge ;  and  thus  furnished,  the  young  and  in- 
experienced brass-founder  went  to  work.  He  succeeded 
admirably,  he  thought,  and  in  two  years  had  paid  all 
his  debts  and  was  worth  £50. 

He  had  also,  in  that  time,  learned  something  about 
the  construction  of  brass  clocks.  Timothy  Cheany 
had  stopped  at  his  shop  once,  whilst  on  an  errand  to 
clean  a  clock  in  the  neighborhood,  and  either  in  a  spirit 
of  irony  or  of  unwonted  good-nature,  offered  to  permit 
Fitch  to  go  with  him  and  see  how  it  was  done.  This 
proposition  was  declined,  but  shortly  afterward  hearing 
that  Roger  "VYolcott,  a  grandson  of  Governor  Wolcott, 
had  a  clock  which  was  out  of  order,  our  brass-founder 
went  to  him  and  requested  that  he  might  be  allowed  to 
take  it  apart.  He  candidly  confessed  that  he  never 
had  done  work  of  that  kind,  but  declared  that  he  had 
confidence  in  his  ability  to  clean  and  put  it  together 
in  good  order.  Mr.  Wolcott  consented  to  this  proposal, 
and  Fitch,  having  taken  the  clock  apart,  succeeded, 
after  much  trouble,  in  getting  it  together  rightly,  and 
it  went  very  well.  After  that  attempt  he  undertook 


48  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

to  clean  brass  clocks  whenever  he  could  get  an  oppor- 
tunity. He  made  some  blunders  at  first,  but  after  a 
time  become  tolerably  proficient  at  such  work. 

At  that  time  he  was  induced  to  enter  into  partner- 
ship with  two  young  men  having  less  capital  than  him- 
self, in  a  scheme  for  manufacturing  potash.  Fitch 
supposed  that  he  could  manage  his  brass  work  himself, 
and  entrust  the  potash  works  to  them.  He  soon  dis- 
covered the  unpleasant  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed.  One  of  his  partners  could  not  be  relied  upon 
to  do  the  work, -and  the  other  had  no  money  to  advance 
upon  his  share.  Under  these  circumstances,  Fitch  was 
compelled  to  purchase  the  interest  of  both.  He  was 
entirely  ignorant  of  the  method  of  manufacturing  pot- 
ash, and  to  understand  it,  he  neglected  his  brass  busi- 
ness and  went  into  another  potash  house  at  small 
wages  to  learn  the  process. 

The  place  for  the  potash  works  was  badly  chosen. 
It  was  twenty-five  miles  from  the  house  of  his  father, 
and  in  Hartland  township,  which  was  not  inhabited  by 
more  than  thirty  or  forty  families.  The  ashes  supplied 
by  them  was  not  sufficient ;  the  gatherings  in  the  dis- 
trict did  not  exceed  one  thousand  bushels  in  a  year. 

While  he  was  at  the  potash  works  he  boarded  with 
one  Beamen,  who  had  married  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
Roberts,  of  Simsbury.  During  his  residence  there, 
Lucy  Roberts  came  to  visit  her  sister,  and  Fitch  be- 
came acquainted  with  her.  She  was  several  years  older 
than  he,  "and  rather  inclining  to  be  an  old  maid." 
These  disqualifications  were  not  much  thought  of  by 
the  subject  of  our  biography,  and  after  a  short  court- 
ship of  six  months,  in  which  he  had  "but  little  oppor- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  49 

tunity  of  learning  her  character,"  ho  was  married  to 
Lucy  Roberts  on  the  29th  of  December,  1769.  He 
said  of  her  afterwards,  "she  was  deaceant  woman 
enough,  and  no  ways  ugly,  but  delicate  in  her  make." 
Her  father  was  a  man  of  some  repute,  and  had  a  con- 
siderable estate.  On  the  3d  of  November,  1768,  a 
son  was  born  to  this  couple,  who  was  named  Shaler 
Fitch. 

The  potash  works  had  been  carried  on  in  the  mean- 
while to  little  profit,  and  after  it  had  ceased  to  be 
worth  attending  to,  Fitch  resolved  to  build  a  shop  for 
brass  work,  which,  as  his  views  were  rather  magnificent, 
was  three  times  more  extensive,  and  expensive,  than  it 
should  have  been.  He  became  embarrassed  in  conse- 
quence, but  managed  to  disentangle  himself  after  some 
effort.  Meanwhile  his  family  affairs  were  most  un- 
happy. His  wife  was  high-tempered,  and  although  he 
avers  that  he  never  gave  her  an  angry  word,  he  was 
continually  subject  to  her  displeasure.  He  became 
convinced  that  he  could  not  live  happily  with  her,  and 
resolved  to  leave  her.  This  was  not  the  hasty  passion 
of  an  hour,  but  the  cool  determination  of  six  months 
of  endurance,  during  which  period  he  repeatedly  told 
his  wife,  that  unless  she  restrained  her  temper  he  would 
separate  from  her ;  which  intimations  she  treated  with 
ridicule  and  scorn.  He  brought  his  business  to  a 
narrow  compass,  and  left  his  affairs  in  a  good  condition 
for  settlement.  Not  desiring  to  increase  his  family,  he 
was  compelled  to  depart  sooner  than  he  had  intended, 
leaving  some  of  his  business  unfinished.  In  reality, 
his  wife  was  enciente  with  a  daughter,  afterwards  born, 
who  was  named  Lucy.  He  averred  that  he  did  not 
5 


50  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

suspect  this  fact,  and  assured  his  friend,  Mr.  Irwin,  in 
after  years,  that  if  he  "  had  known  it"  he  would  never 
have  left  her,  but  would  have  worried  through  life  "  as 
well  as  he  could." 

On  the  18th  of  January,  1769,  the  unhappy  husband 
left  the  residence  of  his  wife  forever,  having  no  fixed 
place  to  which  he  intended  to  proceed,  going  away  with 
a  small  supply  of  clothing,  and  with  less  than  eight 
dollars  in  his  pocket.  Twenty  years  afterward,  on  re- 
lating this  fact  to  Mr.  Irwin,  he  said : 

This  day,  sir,  was  the  most  dismal  of  any  I  ever  saw ;  to  set 
off  from  home  and  leave  my  friends  and  relations,  neighbors  and 
acquaintances,  and  a  child  which  I  valued  as  much  as  my  own 
life,  and  to  go  almost  bare  of  money  I  knew  not  where,  nor  what 
distresses  might  come  upon  me  when  friendless  and  among 
strangers ;  and  although  I  had  almost  every  day  seriously  told 
my  wife  that  I  would  do  what  I  did,  for  six  months  before,  she 
never  would  believe  me,  nor  affect  to  believe  me,  till  about  an 
hour  before  I  sat  out,  when  she  appeared  affected  and  distressed, 
and  in  the  most  humble  manner  implored  my  stay,  and  followed 
me  about  half  a  mile,  where  I  stopped.  This  added  double 
grief,  and  I  really  felt  an  inclination  to  try  her  once  more;  but 
my  judgment  informed  me  that  it  was  my  duty  to  go,  notwith- 
standing the  struggles  of  nature  I  had  to  contend  with. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  51 

CHAPTER    III. 

THE    SILVERSMITH  —  THE   GUNSMITH. 

AFTER  parting  with  his  wife,  Fitch  plodded  onward 
despondingly.  During  that  afternoon  he  walked  eight 
miles.  The  next  morning  he  went  on  toward  Albany. 
"When  he  arrived  at  Pittsfield  (now  a  township  of  Ot- 
sego  County,  New  York,)  he  resolved  to  stay  there  for 
a  time.  He  worked  for  three  months,  merely  main- 
taining himself,  and  gaining  nothing  beyond  his  sub- 
sistence. He  then  went  on  to  Albany,  where,  seeing 
no  chances  of  obtaining  work,  he  resolved  to  go  to 
New  York,  and,  if  possible,  procure  passage  to  Ja- 
maica, where  his  uncle  Timothy  Shaler,  a  man  of  con- 
siderable fortune,  was  settled  at  Savannah  la  Mar. 
His  route  was  by  land,  and  he  cleaned  clocks  at  the 
farm-houses  which  he  passed  on  his  way,  and  by  that 
means  reached  New  York  better  off  than  when  he  left 
Albany.  He  was  disappointed  in  obtaining  a  passage 
from  that  port  to  Jamaica,  and  he  determined  to  go  on 
through  New  Jersey. 

Elizabethtown  Point  was  the  place  to  which  he  had 
first  determined  to  go.  He  walked  along  under  great 
depression,  and  about  two  miles  before  he  reached  his 
proposed  destination,  stopped  at  a  house  where  he  ob- 
tained lodging  and  went  to  bed  in  keen  distress.  He 
thought  of  his  child,  his  parents,  and  relations,  and 
what  might  ensue  if  sickness  should  overtake  him. 
After  a  restless  night,  he  arose,  and  once  more  sought 


52  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

the  road,  undetermined  what  he  should  do.  He  was 
inclined  to  return  to  New  England,  but  the  people  of 
the  tavern  where  he  had  lodged  had  been  informed 
whence  he  came,  and  whither  he  was  going.  He  was 
ashamed  to  retrace  his  steps,  while  they  were  wonder- 
ing at  his  seeming  irresolution.  He  thought  he  would 
get  out  of  the  sight  of  the  house,  and  return  by  a  cir- 
cuitous course,  avoiding  the  tavern  and  gaining  the 
road  beyond.  His  mind  was  not  resolved  upon  any- 
thing, and  he  walked  on  until  he  reached  the  village 
of  Woodbridge,  now  a  part  of  Rahway.  He  had  car- 
ried a  heavy  bundle  of  clothes,  and  was  fatigued.  He 
stopped  before  the  house  of  one  Benjamin  Alford,  and 
determined  to  seek  refreshment  there.  Passing  through 
the  gate  and  a  little  garden,  he  heard  a  noise  within 
the  dwelling.  He  had  a  mind  to  withdraw,  but  going 
up  to  the  door,  which  was  in  two  parts,  according  to 
the  fashion  of  the  time,  he  knocked  against  the  lower 
half,  and  looked  into  the  room  through  a  space  left  by 
the  upper  half,  which  was  open.  He  saw  an  old  man 
sitting  in  the  chimney  corner,  with  his  head  against 
the  back,  smoking  a  pipe.  There  was  an  old  woman 
and  a  young  one  in  the  room.  The  former  was  in  high 
wrath,  and  scolding  the  old  man  with  loud  invective. 
This  employment  did  not  cease  upon  the  appearance 
of  the  stranger.  No  notice  was  taken  of  him,  and 
with  a  confidence  which  he  soon  regretted,  he  ventured 
to  walk  in.  His  adventure  there,  and  the  reception 
he  met  with,  were  afterwards  related  in  a  letter  to  his 
friend,  Roswell  Mills,  in  the  following  atrocious  dog- 
gerel lines,  which  the  reader  will  only  pardon  because 
they  were  the  composition  of  the  man,  and  the  very 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  53 

best  evidence  that  could  be  adduced  that  he  was  not 
born  a  poet : 

SIR  —  Now  I  •will  a  story  tell,  which  does  upon  me  centure: 
Near  Woodbridge  Town  there  I  did  meet  a  true  but  strange  ad- 
venture. 

It  was  a  hot,  long,  melting  day,  and  I  grew  almost  weary ; 
To  a  small  house  I  did  repair,  thinking  a  wh'ile  to  tarry. 
I  knocked  and  entered  in  the  door,  without  cither's  permission, 
And  when  one  moment's  space  I  found,  I  spoke  without  com- 
mission. 

Said  I,  "  Good  woman,  tell  me  why  that  you  live  so  uneasy  — 
Come  try  some  other  plan  to  live,  and  see  if  it  wont  please  ye?" 
"  No,  faith,"  said  she  "no  other  plan  shall  ere  come  in  my  notion  ; 
For  since  he  has  a  villen  grown,  this  shall  be  his  Portion." 
"  Well,  then,"  said  I,  "  now  for  your  peace,  let  both  consent  for 

parting, 

That  the  remainder  of  your  days  be  not  so  full  of  smarting." 
They  both  consented  to  the  thing,  but  she  was  for  full  hire  — 
One-half  of  all  she  did  demand,  before  she  would  retire. 
Then  my  judgment  soon  was  made  (it  was  without  permission), 
That  the  whole  I'd  rather  give,  than  live  in  that  condition. 
Then  quick  her  eyes  like  lightning  streams  begsin  to  be  a  flying: 
I  was  apprized  of  the  same  —  methought  I  was  a  dying. 
Then  quick  a  Brand  out  of  the  Fire  toward  me  was  coming, 
And  with  my  Pack  I  made  a  shield,  and  hindered  it  from  hum- 
ming. 

Then  soon  I  made  toward  the  door —  sure  I  waa  not  for  staying, 
And  when  I  made  into  the  street,  she  followed  me  close  after  — 
Had  any  one  but  seen  the  sight,  I'm  sure  'twould  made  a 

laughter. 

The  Brand  soon  coming  'bout  my  ears,  and  I  for  it  was  dodging, 
Which  made  me  fly  to  quit  the  place,  and  seek  for  better  lodging. 
If  you  think  my  courage  was  not  good,  permit  me,  sir,  the  favour 
To  tell  you  true  and  honestly,  I'd  rather  run  and  leave  her. 
If  you  will  sond  a  hero  brave  that  will  make  her  for  yealding, 
One  Guiney  I  will  freely  give,  and  pay  the  cost  of  healing. 
But  the  last  which  I  have  said,  I  think  is  something  jocking. 
For  woman  kind  can't  be  subdued,  without  a  little  choaking. 
5* 


54  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

This  adventure  was  a  most  unfortunate  one  in  its 
effect  upon  his  mind.  Subdued  by  his  situation  and 
his  lonely  condition  into  a  state  of  feeling  in  which  his 
heart  yearned  for  his  home,  the  fierceness  of  the  virago 
whom  he  encountered  reminded  him  of  the  contentions 
which  had  driven  him  forth  from  his  family.  He  was 
now  resolved  not  to  return  to  New  England,  and  he 
offered  himself  as  a  laborer  on  a  plantation ;  "  but 
being  slender  made,  and  having  the  appearance  of  one 
considerably  advanced  in  the  consumption,"  he  could 
find  no  employment.  At  Brunswick  he  endeavored 
to  enlist  in  the  king's  service  as  a  soldier,  but  he  was 
refused  for  the  same  reasons  which  had  caused  his  re- 
jection by  the  farmers.  He  left  New  Brunswick  for 
"Greggstown  on  the  Millstone"  (probably  the  present 
village  of  Millstone),  where  he  got  a  clock  to  clean. 
The  next  day  he  went  to  Princeton,  where  lie  cleaned 
two  clocks. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  1769,  he  reached  Trenton. 
Here  he  obtained  the  sympathy  of  one  Matthew  Clunn, 
a  tinman,  who  was  "a  friend  to  strangers."  Clunn 
was  a  generous-hearted  man,  and,  wishing  to  give  the 
traveller  some  encouragement,  enployed  him  to  make 
a  quantity  of  brass  buttons.  Such,  work  was  out  of 
the  usual  line  of  business  of  Fitch  ;  but  he  undertook 
it,  and,  although  under  many  disadvantages  for  want 
of  proper  tools,  he  had  the  job  completed  in  a  short 
time.  He  did  other  work,  and  now  essayed  to  make  a 
set  of  watchmaking  tools.  Clunn  had  an  old  watch, 
which  he  ventured  to  trust  to  Fitch,  who  took  it  apart 
and  put  it  together  again.  This  was  the  first  time  that 
the  latter  had  ever  touched  a  watch,  although  in  Timo- 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  55 

thy  Cheany's  shop  such  work  had  been  performed  daily. 
The  result  gave  him  confidence,  and  he  added  the  re- 
pairing of  watches  to  the  accomplishments  which  he 
claimed  to  possess. 

Next  door  to  Clunn  lived  one  James  Wilson,  who, 
with  few  qualifications,  was  ambitious  to  have  the  cha- 
racter of  a  man  who  carried  on  a  profitable  business. 
He  was  a  silversmith  by  trade,  and  the  son  of  a  rich 
man,  who  once  owned  the  Amboy  ferry.  Being  an 
only  child,  young  "Wilson  had  been  too  much  indulged, 
lie  was  at  the  proper  age  apprenticed  to  a  silversmith 
at  New  York,  to  whom  a  large  fee  was  given  for  his 
instruction.  Wilson's  board  was  paid  by  his  father's 
estate ;  and,  being  a  gentleman  apprentice,  the  young 
man  only  worked  when  he  chose,  and  his  master  paid 
little  attention  to  him.  He  was  now  in  Trenton,  a 
silversmith  in  name,  possessing  a  fine  set  of  tools,  but 
having  only  a  small  degree  of  practical  skill.  Clunn 
prevailed  upon  Wilson  to  engage  Fitch,  and  the  latter 
being  very  ingenious  and  observant,  soon  managed  to  pick 
up  the  trade.  Wilson  was  deficient  in  the  steady  quali- 
ties which  his  journeyman  possessed,  and  being  addicted 
to  dissipation,  soon  fell  into  trouble.  The  business  was 
light,  and  with  great  economy  Fitch  restricted  his 
expenses  to  three  pence  a  day,  which  was  within  his 
income,  and  he  subsisted  mostly  upon  fruit.  Business 
became  so  dull  that  he  determined  to  travel  in  search 
of  customers.  With  eight  or  ten  shillings  in  his  pocket, 
and  with  clothing  much  the  worse  for  wear,  he  set  out 
on  the  4th  of  September,  1769,  as  an  itinerant  pedlar. 
His  stock  in  trade  was  fifty  or  sixty  pair  of  brass 
sleeve-buttons,  and  with  that  small  store  he  went  into 


56  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

the  townships  of  Springfield  and  Mansfield,  Burlington 
County,  hoping  to  eke  out  the  profits  of  his  adventure 
by  cleaning  clocks  for  the  farmers,  and  without  having 
any  settled  design  of  returning  to  Trenton.  His  suc- 
cess was  gratifying.  He  sold  all  his  buttons  for  lOd 
per  pair,  and  cleaned  twelve  clocks  while  upon  his  cir- 
cuit. After  a  tour  of  two  weeks  he  returned  to  Tren- 
ton, and  determined  to  try  another  trip  as  soon  as  he 
could  prepare  for  it.  He  bought  an  old  brass  kettle 
and  worked  it  up  into  sleeve-buttons,  with  a  supply  of 
which  he  went  some  days  afterward  into  Monmouth, 
where  he  did  nearly  as  well  as  upon  his  first  journey. 
He  now  hired  a  room,  of  William  Smith  at  Trenton, 
and  went  into  the  manufacture  of  brass  and  silver  but- 
tons, and  in  two  weeks  was  off  again  to  the  Raritan, 
where  he  succeeded  admirably.  Meanwhile,  Wilson 
had  got  into  difficulties  with  one  Daniel  Pegg  of  Am- 
well,  who  had  given  him  a  watch  to  repair  which  was 
never  returned.  Wilson  was  arrested,  and  by  way  of 
compromise  it  was  agreed  that  he  should  hire  his  tools 
to  Fitch  at  a  small  rate,  to  be  paid  to  Pegg,  until  the 
claim  was  satisfied.  Other  creditors  were  importunate, 
and  in  a  short  time  afterward  Fitch  was  induced  to 
purchase  the  tools  for  £40,  of  which  sum  he  paid  <£30 
in  cash.  He  then  congratulated  himself  that  he  had 
the  finest  set  of  tools  in  America.  He  was  destitute 
of  money  to  carry  on  trade,  but  went  on  in  a  small 
way,  gradually  increasing  his  stock  and  acquiring 
credit.  lie  was  soon  enabled  to  borrow  on  occasion, 
and,  being  very  particular  in  his  payments,  was  ena- 
bled to  command  the  confidence  of  those  capitalists 
to  be  found  in  all  communities,  who  are  always 


LIFE    OF    JO  UN    FITCH.  57 

willing  to  lend  money  at  round  rates  of  interest.  He 
employed  Wilson  as  a  journeyman,  and  afterwards 
others,  and  became  a  famous  silversmith,  having  a 
greater  run  of  business  than  any  silversmith  in  Phila- 
delphia, as  his  journeymen  told  him.  He  still  con- 
tinued his  trips  with  his  buttons  throughout  the  sur- 
rounding country,  often  carrying  a  budget  worth  .£200. 
By  these  means  he  waxed  rich,  and  when  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  broke  out  he  estimated  himself  to  be  worth 
£800. 

As  the  political  disputes  between  the  Colonies  and 
Great  Britain  arose  into  importance,  Fitch  became  a 
strong  partisan  upon  the  American  side.  At  an  early 
stage  of  the  contest,  he  petitioned  for  the  command  of 
a  company  in  the  Jersey  line,  and  was  assured  of  ob- 
taining a  commission.  The  members  of  the  Conven- 
tion of  the  Province,  when  the  raising  of  troops  was 
first  proposed,  were  of  opinion  that  every  soldier  should 
be  compelled  to  furnish  himself  with  arms,  ammunition, 
and  clothing — a  plan  which  would  have  been  griev- 
ously burdensome  upon  the  privates,  most  of  whom 
were  poor  men.  As  they  were  not  on  an  equality  in 
point  of  means,  it  was  obvious  that  there  would  have 
been  such  hardship  by  enforcing  the  order  that  the 
condition  of  the  troops  would  have  been  demoralized 
at  the  beginning,  and  their  effectual  force  would  have 
been  greatly  weakened  by  the  discontents  which  would 
have  arisen,  as  well  by  the  want  of  uniformity  in  equip- 
ment consequent  upon  diversity  in  pecuniary  ability. 
Fitch  was  one  of  those  who  protested  against  the  en- 
forcement of  that  resolution,  and  the  opposition  evoked 
against  it  was  successful  in  causing  a  reconsideration 


58  LIFE    OP    JOHN     FITCH. 

and  recision  of  the  regulation.  When  the  first  com- 
pany was  raised  at  Trenton,  John  Fitch  was  chosen 
1st  lieutenant,  and  Wm.  Tucker  2d  lieutenant.  The 
latter  was  an  old  resident,  whilst  his  superior  officer 
was  but  a  stranger.  Lieut.  Fitch  was  of  opinion  that 
his  comrade  ought  to  have  the  principal  position,  and 
he  made  a  proposition  that  they  should  change  places. 
This  arrangement  was  agreeable  to  Lieut.  Tucker  and 
the  company,  and  accordingly  Lieut.  Fitch  was  com- 
missioned as  second  lieutenant. 

Hardly  had  this  arrangement  been  made  before  the 
Committee  of  Safety  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey 
solicited  Lieut.  Fitch  to  undertake  the  duties  of  gun- 
smith for  them ;  and  in  order  to  encourage  artificers 
necessary  for  the  efficiency  of  the  troops,  they  passed  a 
resolution  that  the  gunsmiths  should  not  be  liable  to  be 
called  upon  to  do  military  duty.  Although  this  regula- 
tion exonerated  Lieut.  Fitch  from  service,  he  did  not  de- 
sire to  avail  himself  of  it,  but  attended  company  train- 
ings as  usual.  He  had  begun  the  business  of  armorer 
according  to  the  request  of  the  Committee  of  Safety, 
and  had  several  workmen  employed.  In  the  summer  of 
1776,  a  large  number  of  the  militia  were  ordered  to  go 
to  Amboy,  and  Fitch  was  called  upon  for  arms  to  fit 
them  out.  Not  having  sufficient,  he  went  through  the 
townships  and  obtained  all  the  arms  that  were  to  be 
had  with  the  consent  of  the  owners.  In  this  business 
he  became  involved  in  a  dispute  about  a  gun  with 
Alexander  Chambers,  who  had  been  Barrack-master 
of  the  King's  barracks,  and  was  then  a  commissary  to 
furnish  the  provincial  troops  The  quarrel  was  further 
embittered  by  a  demand  made  on  Chambers  by  Fitch 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  59 

for  blankets  for  the  use  of  some  poor  soldiers,  and 
which  articles  were,  by  the  interposition  of  superior 
authority,  obtained  from  the  unwilling  commissary. 
The  result  of  these  difficulties  was,  that  from  a  friend 
Chambers  became  a  bitter  enemy  of  Fitch,  and  subse- 
quently exerted  his  whole  influence  against  him  wher- 
ever it  was  possible  to  do  so.  At  this  time  Lieut.  Fitch 
took  the  temporary  command  of  his  company,  land 
marched  with  it  to  Maidenhead,  the  place  of  rendez- 
vous. There  a  new  trouble  arose  about  the  rank  of  the 
officers.  The  first  lieutenancy  was  now  vacant,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  promotion  of  Lieut.  Tucker  to  a  cap- 
taincy. Lieut.  Fitch  was  fairly  entitled  to  the  posi- 
tion, but  enemies  attempted  to  deprive  him  of  it. 
Under  the  influence  of  Alex.  Chambers,  jr.,  one  John 
Yard,  of  the  light  infantry,  was  brought  forward  as 
the  candidate  for  the  first  lieutenancy,  to  the  exclusion 
of  Fitch.  There  could  have  been  no  difficulty  as  to 
the  right  of  the  latter,  who  had  the  post  by  election 
originally,  and  now  by  seniority.  Gen.  Dickinson 
hesitated  what  to  do,  and  finally,  in  a  seemingly 
friendly  way,  advised  him  to  leave  the  question  to  the 
vote  of  the  company.  lie  consented,  and  was  beaten 
by  Yard,  who  received  a  majority  of  two  votes.  The 
resentment  and  mortification  of  Fitch  were  very  great 
at  this  result.  He  took  his  gun  and  knapsack,  and 
marched  back  to  Trenton  alone.  His  presence  was 
very  much  wanted  there,  and  he  was  of  infinitely  more 
service  to  the  State  in  the  gun-factory  than  he  could 
have  been  in  the  field.  Troops  were  coming  in  daily 
from  all  quarters,  and  there  was  plenty  of  work  to  do 
in  the  repairing  and  fitting  of  arms  of  all  kinds.  To 


60  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

keep  up  with  the  demand  for  his  lahor,  Fitch  and  his 
workmen  were  in  the  shop  from  early  dawn  until  late 
night.  He  worked  without  intermission,  on  Sundays 
as  well  as  week  days,  which  course  got  him  the  enmity 
of  the  Methodist  sect,  with  which  he  was  then  con- 
nected, and  they  expelled  him  from  their  society. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1776,  three  companies  were 
called  for,  out  of  the  battalion  to  which  he  belonged. 
Col.  Smith,  the  commanding  officer,  appointed  Fitch  to 
the  captaincy  of  the  third  company.  No  sooner  was  this 
known  to  Green,  Smith,  and  Chambers,  than  they  set 
up  a  candidate  for  the  commission,  and  endeavored  to 
persuade  the  colonel  to  degrade  Fitch.  The  new  aspirant 
thus  brought  out  was  one  Ralph  Jones,  a  younger  officer 
than  Lieut.  Fitch.  In  consequence  of  this,  a  dispute  arose 
which  occupied  two  hours,  and  was  only  stopped  by  Col. 
Smith  declaring  that  he  would  recall  the  appointment 
and  defer  the  nomination  to  the  voice  of  the  officers 
present.  Here  again  Fitch  unwisely  submitted,  if  the 
power  of  legal  resistance  was  in  him.  Ralph  Jones 
was  appointed,  and  Fitch,  a  second  time  disgraced  and 
unjustly  used,  determined  to  have  nothing  more  to  do 
with  the  campaign.  In  due  time  his  commission  was 
vacated,  -and  a  new  lieutenant  elected  in  his  stead. 
Meanwhile  the  factory  had  been  carried  on  with  fidelity, 
and  it  was  continued  until  the  approach  of  the  enemy 
rendered  further  labor  dangerous.  In  the  latter  part 
of  November,  1776,  the  British  were  approaching  Tren- 
ton, occupying  successively,  as  they  progressed,  the 
principal  points  between  the  Hackensack  and  the  Dela- 
ware. On  the  8th  of  December,  Washington  crossed 
the  Delaware,  and  took  post  on  the  right  bank  between 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  61 

Coryell's  Ferry  and  Bristol.  At  this  time  all  active 
Whigs  evacuated  New  Jersey.  Fitch  fled  with  them, 
and  took  refuge  with  John  Mitchell,  at  the  Four  Lanes 
End,  in  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania.  Whilst  there, 
his  battalion  was  at  Yerley's  Ferry.  He  was  uncer- 
tain what  to  do,  and  was  vexed  by  the  conflicting  coun- 
sels tendered  him.  At  one  time  he  prepared  a  petition 
to  Gen.  -Dickinson,  that  he  might  be  brought  to  trial 
by  a  court-martial,  but  was  persuaded  not  to  present 
it.  At  another  time  he  draughted  a  memorial  asking 
to  be  reinstated,  but  withheld  it  from  like  influence. 
Meanwhile  his  character  suffered,  and  although  his 
services  as  armorer  exonerated  him  entirely  from  mili- 
tary duty,  some  of  his  enemies  did  not  scruple  to  call 
him  a  deserter.  He  expected  a  weary,  disagreeable 
round  of  disputes  if  he  went  to  camp,  and  whilst  in  a 
state  of  irresolution  as  to  his  course  of  action,  time 
went  on,  and  exciting  incidents  changed  the  position 
and  the  relations  of  his  countrymen  who  were  in  arms. 
Meanwhile,  he  had  obeyed  the  orders  upon  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Bucks  to  muster  in  the  militia,  and  had  been 
at  training  in  a  company  commanded  by  Capt.  Hart. 

Whilst  he  remained  in  Bucks  County  he  devoted 
himself  to  study,  according  to  the,  opportunities  which 
he  could  obtain,  at  a  time  when  books  were  scarce. 

Mr.  William  J.  Buck  says  of  him  in  the  "History 
of  Bucks  County,"  Part  II.  Chapter  xxvi.,  published 
in  1854-5,  in  the  Bucks  County  Intelligencer: 

.  .  .  .  During  his  residence  here  (Warminster),  as  I  learn 
from  the  minutes  of  the  Hatborough  Library,  he  became  one 
of  its  members  in  November,  1778,  having  purchased  the  share 
of  James  Ogleby.  It  further  appears  that,  at  the  annual  meet- 


62  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ing  of  Xovember  6th,  1779,  "  The  Company  taking  into  consi- 
deration the  depreciation  of  the  currency,  conclude  that  the  fines 
on  delinquent  members  are  too  small ;  they  therefore  choose 
Samuel  Irvvin,  Daniel  Longstreth,  and  John  Fitch  a  committee 
to  regulate  and  fix  the  fines  according  to  the  currency."  There 
is  no  report  from  this  committee  in  their  records.  We  next 
learn  that,  at  a  meeting  of  the  directors  on  the  6th  of  May,  1780, 
"John  Folwell,  making  it  appear  that  he  had  purchased  the 
share  of  John  Fitch,  is  admitted  a  member."  These  records  also 
contain  his  autograph,  which  is  written  in  a  neat  hand.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  library  company  about  a  year  and  a  half. 
As  I  had  a  desire  to  know  what  books  he  had  out,  on  examina- 
tion, found  the  following  entry  : 

"John  Fitch.     17th  of  llmo.  Du  Pretz  His.  Lousiana  ;  returned 

ye  22nd  of  llmo.,  1779. 
22nd   of  llmo.   Life   of  Charles  XII.  King  of 

Sweden  ;  returned  4th  of  12mo. 
4th  of  12mo.  History  of  Late  War." 

By  his  love  of  history  we  see  the  practical  turn  of  his  mind. 
Soon  after,  in  1780,  he  went  to  Kentucky  as  a  surveyor.  .  .  . 
His  prevailing  temperament  seems  to  have  been  of  a  melancholy 
cast ;  nor  need  we  be  surprised  at  this,  for  his  whole  life  appears 
to  have  been  a  continual  series  of  misfortunes.  .  .  . 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  63 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    SUTTLEK  —  THE    SURVEYOR. 

• 

FROM  Mitchell's,  Fitch  removed  to  Charles  Garrison's 
place,  in  Warminster  township,  where  he  began  busi- 
ness in  a  small  way,  and  prosecuted  it  until  the  ad- 
vance of  the  British  by  the  head  of  Elk  to  Philadel- 
phia and  the  region  above  drove  him  away  from  what 
was  to  become  "a  bloody  ground,"  lying  between  the 
outposts  of  both  armies,  and  liable  to  the  predatory 
incursions  of  each.  When  he  fled  from  Trenton,  he 
had  been  successful  in  bringing  away  in  one  small 
wagon-load  some  of  his  tools  and  most  valuable  effects. 
After  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Princeton,  he  visited 
his  old  home,  and  found  things  in  a  sad  condition. 
Many  of  his  tools  had  been  broken,  his  household  fur- 
niture had  been  destroyed,  his  chairs  had  been  cut 
down  to  stools,  and  his  desk  split  up  for  fuel.  Re- 
claiming what  he  could,  he  returned  to  Bucks  County, 
and  set  up  silversmithing  in  a  portion  of  a  wheelwright 
shop  belonging  to  James  Scout,  usually  called  "Cobe 
(Jacobus)  Scout."  The  approach  of  the  enemy  from 
below  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  fly  once  more. 
He  buried  his  silver  and  gold  by  night  in  a  retired  and 
safe  situation,  as  he  supposed,  upon  Garrison's  place, 
and  sought  the  head-quarters  of  the  American  army, 
where  he  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  wants  of 
the  troops.  There  was  a  scarcity  of  tobacco,  and  of 
some  kinds  of  dry  goods.  He  went  to  Baltimore, 


64  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

where  he  purchased  enough  articles  to  fill  two  wagons, 
which,  by  slow  and  toilsome  journeys,  were  driven  to 
the  camp  at  Valley  Forge.  When  he  arrived  there, 
he  found  that  large  supplies  of  tobacco  had  been  re- 
ceived, and  that  which  he  had  brought  did  not  meet 
with  ready  sale.  He  had  to  keep  it  on  hand  a  long 
time,  and  to  manufacture  some  of  it  into  merchantable 
shape.  He  now  turned  his  attention  to  supplying  the 
suttlers  of  the  army  with  beer.  He  engaged  all  which 
was  prepared  at  one  brewery  in  Bucks  County,  and 
had  two  wagons  and  teams  in  constant  communication 
with  the  camp.  In  this  adventure  he  cleared  <£5  per 
barrel.  Business  slacking,  he  engaged  beer  at  York 
and  Lancaster,  and  sent  one  team  to  Valley  Forge 
each  week.  Good  sales  were  met  with  there,  and  what- 
ever was  not  disposed  of  was  taken  to  Trenton,  where 
customers  were  readily  found.  On  these  trips  he  real- 
ized from  £50  to  ,£150  Continental  currency  per  week. 
He  put  a  considerable  sum  of  his  earnings  into  pur- 
chases of  goods,  but  kept  a  large  amount  of  notes  on 
hand,  and  was  distressed  at  the  continual  depreciation 
of  the  Continental  money.  It  was  now,  before  the 
camp  had  quitted  Valley  Forge,  valued  at  forty  dollars 
of  paper  money  for  one  in  specie,  and  he  had  forty 
thousand  dollars  of  that  currency  on  hand. 

When  the  British  evacuated  Philadelphia,  June  18th, 
1778,  this  trade  was  broken  up,  and  Fitch  turned  his 
attention  to  his  old  business.  Repairing  to  Bucks 
County,  he  sought  his  buried  treasure  on  the  estate  of 
Chas.  Garrison,  but  to  his  dismay  and  grief  the  pre- 
cious deposit  was  missing.  He  had  imprudently  buried 
it  at  night  by  the  light  of  a  lantern,  and  his  move- 


LIFEOFJOHNFITCH.  65 

ments  had  been  observed.  The  treasure  had  been  dis- 
covered and  dug  up.  It  was  some  time  before  any  clue 
to  the  mystery  could  be  found,  but  at  length  it  was 
established  that  one  of  Garrison's  negroes  had  pos- 
sessed himself  of  the  treasure  trove.  This  fellow  had 
been  induced  to  give  the  whole,  or  nearly  all  of  the 
money  to  a  young  white  man  who  lived  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  who  was  of  a  wealthy  and  respectable 
family.  Fitch  boldly  determined  to  bring  him  to  jus- 
tice, and  he  had  him  arrested.1  The  father  of  the  re- 
ceiver of  the  money  became  his  s'urety,  after  which  the 
son  absconded.  Eventually  the  father  settled  with 
Fitch,  giving  him  Continental  money  at  rates  more 
favorable  than  the  current  value,  although  there  was 
considerable  loss  upon  the  transaction. 

His  tools  were  again  put  in  requisition,  and  he  en- 
deavored to  carry  on  his  old  brass  and  silver  smith 
business  in  Bucks  County,  where  he  could  live  cheaper 
than  in  New  Jersey.  He  persevered  in  this  effort  for 
more  than  a  year  with  but  poor  success,  and  what  was 
worse,  was  compelled  to  see  his  wealth  depreciate 
daily,  so  that  his  forty  thousand  dollars,  which  was 
worth  one  thousand  dollars  specie  when  the  army  left 
Valley  Forge,  was  now  of  no  greater  value  than  one 
hundred  dollars.  In  this  extremity  he  bethought  him 
what  it  was  best  to  do,  and  he  concluded  that  the  only 
way  for  him  to  save  his  money  from  becoming  utterly 
worthless,  was  to  invest  it  in  land-warrants  in  Virginia, 

1  In  order  to  procure  the  warrant,  he  walked  to  Spring  Mill 
and  back  to  Warminster,  before  sunset,  forty  miles.  —  1  Wat- 
son's Annals  of  Philadelphia,  page  586. 

6* 


66  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  to  go  out  to  that  unknown  region  Kentucky,  and 
locate  his  claims  upon  the  most  valuable  lands. 

In  the  spring  of  1780,  he  left  Bucks  County,  and 
repairing  to  Philadelphia,  obtained  letters  of  recom- 
mendation from  Dr.  John  Ewing,  provost  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania,  addressed  to  Dr.  James  Madi- 
son, afterwards  Bishop  of  Virginia,  who  was  at  that 
time  President  of  William  and  Mary  College  at  Rich- 
mond. In  that  epistle  Dr.  Ewing  declared  that  John 
Fitch  was  a  worthy  man,  and  had  the  proper  qualifica- 
tions to  become  a  deputy-surveyor.  Mr.  William  C. 
Houston,  afterwards  a  member  of  Congress,  and  some 
others,  joined  in  these  encomiums,  and  their  influence 
was  sufficient  to  procure  for  Fitch  the  coveted  com- 
mission. The  journey  to  Richmond  was  made  upon 
foot,  and  it  must  have  been  attended  with  a  variety  of 
incidents,  but  of  the  particulars  we  have  no  record. 
The  country  was  desolated  by  war,  and  wherever  our 
adventurer  went  there  were  traces  of  its  influence  in 
wasted  fields  and  dilapidation.  From  Richmond  he 
travelled,  in  company  with  William  Tucker,  whom  he 
had  engaged  to  assist  him  in  his  surveys,  westward 
through  what  was  almost  a  wilderness,  and,  after  many 
fatigues,  found  himself  at  Wheeling  island  on  the  Ohio 
river,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1780.  Here  eleven 
boats  were  moored,  and  they  were  preparing  to  descend 
the  stream.  A  consultation  was  held  among  the  voy- 
agers as  to  the  best  means  of  securing  their  mutual 
safety.  The  banks  of  the  river  were  uninhabited,  and 
Indians,  whose  friendship  was  not  to  be  depended  upon, 
were  supposed  to  be  lying  in  wait  at  favorable  points, 
to  attack  and  rob  such  boats  as  were  not  strongly 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  67 

manned,  and  able  to  repel  the  aggression.  Fitch  pro- 
posed that  all  the  boats  should  be  lashed  together, 
urging  as  a  reason  that  if  they  were  separate  they 
would  become  spread  out  over  a  considerable  distance, 
and  could  not  give  assistance  as  easily  to  any  one  or 
more  which  should  be  selected  out  by  the  foe.  This 
proposition  led  to  considerable  debate.  The  Rev. 
Mr.  Barned.  a  Baptist  clergyman,  coincided  in  this 
opinion,  and  advocated  it  strongly.  But  contrary  re- 
solutions prevailed.  Foremost  among  the  opponents 
was  one  Tombleston,  who  owned  two  boats  which 
seemed  to  be  well  manned,  who  was  selfish  enough  to 
suppose  that  their  speed  would  be  sufficient  to  enable 
them  to  escape,  even  if  his  companions  should  suffer. 
Finally,  it  was  decided  not  to  adopt  Fitch's  plan,  and 
the  proposer  was  even  accused  of  cowardice  because 
he  had  ventured  to  suggest  it.  These  taunts  did  not 
deter  him  from  what  he  thought  was  proper,  and  al- 
though he  was  but  a  passenger  on  the  boat  in  which  he 
was  to  descend  the  river,  he  directed  Tucker  to  cut  a 
number  of  grape  vines  and  bring  them  on  board. 
This  excited  the  displeasure  of  one  Stone,  who  directed 
that  they  should  be  thrown  overboard;  but  Fitch  re- 
presented that  they  would  be  useful  in  fastening  the 
boat  to  some  object  on  shore  at  places  where  they  de- 
sired to  stop,  and  they  were  reluctantly  permitted  to 
remain. 

It  was  a  bright  morning  when  the  voyagers  left 
Wheeling,  and  the  sun  shone  serenely  upon  the  thick 
vegetation  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  which  were  gay 
with  the  garniture  of  spring.  They  floated  along  amid 
scenes  of  wild  beauty,  drinking  delight  from  the  ever 


68  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

varying  natural  panorama  which  opened  upon  them  at 
each  bend  of  the  river,  revealing  to  the  eye  the  ma- 
jestic terraces  of  hills  which  stretched  away  on  either 
side  into  the  blue  distance.  It  was  not  long  before  the 
little  fleet  became  scattered  along  the  stream,  extend- 
ing over  two  miles.  About  eleven  o'clock,  the  boat  on 
which  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Earned  came  near  that  in 
•which  Fitch  was,  and  the  latter  invited  his  friend  to 
come  on  board  and  "get  a  drink  of  grog."  The  pro- 
posal was  accepted,  and  as  the  craft  drew  near  they 
were  lashed  together,  and  the  crews  of  both  partici- 
pated in  "drinks  all  around."  The  connection  was 
found  to  be  no  detriment  to  their  speed,  and  they  did 
not  sever  it.  Shortly  afterward  two  other  boats  were 
thus  united,  and  after  that  two  more,  and  finally  both 
of  those  couples  were  fastened  together.  Towards  eve- 
ning the  boats  of  Fitch  and  Earned  joined  them,  and 
the  six,  now  having  a  common  interest,  prepared  for 
the  night.  There  were  eighteen  men  in  them,  and  they 
divided  themselves  into  six  classes  of  three  each.  Two 
persons  pulled  the  bow-oars,  and  one  steered  all  the 
boats.  The  watches  were  strictly  kept  and  relieved, 
and  in  the  morning  all  congratulated  themselves  on  a 
plan  which  permitted  so  much  rest.  If  each  boat  had 
floated  along  singly,  the  services  of  three  men  would 
have  been  required  in  each,  and  the  crew  would  have 
been  much  more  fatigued. 

When  daylight  enlivened  the  scene,  the  boats  of 
Tombleston  were  discovered  ahead,  and  as  that  indi- 
vidual acted  in  perfect  independence  of  his  companions, 
he  stopped  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Sandy  River,  and 
his  party  went  on  shore.  The  others  were  under  no 


LIFE    OF    JOHN.  FITCH.  69 

obligation  to  wait  upon  the  movements  of  Tombleston, 
and  they  proceeded  onward,  and  nothing  more  was 
seen  of  him  during  that  day.  After  they  left  him,  a 
fine  canoe  was  discovered  tied  to  a  sapling  growing 
upon  the  bank.  The  sight  of  this  prize  incited  some 
of  the  persons  in  the  boats  to  go  to  the  shore  and  se- 
cure it.  This  was  done  safely,  although  the  act  was 
very  imprudent,  as  there  could  be  but  little  doubt  that 
Indians  were  in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

The  next  morning,  when  the  sun  was  about  an  hour 
high,  smoke  was  discovered  ascending  from  the  banks 
of  the  river  several  miles  ahead  of  them.  This  cir- 
cumstance ought  to  have  warned  them  of  the  necessity 
of  using  great  circumspection,  but  it  did  not.  When 
they  got  near  the  place  from  which  the  smoke  had  as- 
cended, four  fine  canoes  were  seen  moored  near  the 
shore.  The  avarice  of  some  of  the  boatmen  was 
aroused  at  the  sight,  and  they  made  preparations  to 
seize  the  booty  in  the  same  manner  as  on  the  previous 
day.  Fitch,  who  was  in  the  cabin,  came  out  upon  deck, 
and  remonstrated  against  this  rashness.  Tucker  was  in 
one  of  the  canoes,  and  he  commanded  him  to  come  out. 
Scarcely  had  this  order  been  reluctantly  complied  with 
when  a  party  of  Indians  were  discovered  running  down 
the  bank.  On  perceiving  this,  Fitch  went  below, 
brought  up  a  supply  of  cartridges  and  a  loaded  gun, 
and  laid  it  down  on  the  deck  along-side  of  him.  He 
then  seized  the  steering-oar,  and  not  only  endeavored 
to  get  the  boats  away  from  the  bank,  but  to  protect 
them  from  the  guns  of  the  Indians.  The  sides  of  the 
boat  nearest  the  shore  were  low,  and  the  men  in  it 
were  very  much  exposed.  In  order  to  shield  these 


70  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

people,  endeavor  was  made  to  turn  all  the  boats  round, 
and  set  the  bows  up  the  stream.  In  executing  this 
movement  their  sterns  were  brought  fair  in  toward  the 
Indians,  two  of  whom  fired  at  Fitch,  whose  life  was 
preserved  by  a  cask  of  flaxseed  in  which  the  balls 
lodged.  This  danger  brought  him  down  on  his  knees, 
and  not  being  able  in  that  position  to  manage  the  oar, 
he  called  for  help.  With  some  difficulty,  Stone  was 
induced  to  assist.  Their  bodies  were  protected,  but 
their  hands  were  exposed,  and  the  Indians  fired  at 
them.  Stone  was  wounded  in  the  wrist,  and  it  was 
with  much  difficulty  that  he  could  be  persuaded  to  con- 
tinue his  help  ;  but  finally  the  low-sided  boat  was  got 
out  of  the  range  of  the  fire-arms  of  the  Indians,  so  that 
the  crew  could  bestir  themselves.  The  places  where 
the  bow-oars  were  fixed  were  barricaded  with  bedding, 
and  the  oars  being  double  manned,  the  boats  were  soon 
got  out  into  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  toward  the 
other  bank.  Upon  perceiving  this,  about  thirty  In- 
dians crowded  into  the  canoes,  and  crossing  the  river 
behind  the  voyagers,  began  to  annoy  them  from  the 
shore  then  nearest  them.  To  defeat  this  manoeuvre, 
the  bows  of  the  boats  were  now  steered  down  the 
stream,  towards  the  bank  from  which  the  danger  first 
arose.  Upon  perceiving  the  movement,  the  Indians 
divided  their  forces.  Two  canoes  loaded  with  warriors 
were  paddled  across  the  river  again,  and  the  voyagers 
were  subjected  to  shots  from  both  shores.  The  battle 
was  now  spirited.  The  Indians  had  the  advantage  of 
the  cover  afforded  by  trees  and  bushes,  and  the  people 
in  the  boats  had  to  lie  close,  and  fire  at  the  enemy  with 
great  caution,  so  as  not  to  expose  themselves  too  much. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  71 

For  two  hours  this  contest  continued,  when  Fitch  and 
his  companions  were  relieved  from  the  annoyance  by 
the  intervention  of  a  new  object  of  prey  for  the  atten- 
tion of  the  red  men.  This  was  caused  by  the  appear- 
ance of  Tombleston  and  his  boats.  He  had  followed 
after  the  others,  and  there  was  now  an  opportunity  for 
him  to  understand  how  foolish  he  had  been  in  his  own 
conceit,  and  how  he  suffered  by  rejecting  prudent  coun- 
sel. A  small  party  of  the  foe  held  Fitch  and  his  com- 
panions in  check,  whilst  the  main  body  of  the  savages 
made  a  descent  upon  the  self-reliant  braggart.  One 
of  his  boats,  which  was  loaded  with  lumber  and  valu- 
able property,  was  captured.  Three  of  his  crew  were 
wounded,  but  escaped  in  the  second  boat,  which  by 
strenuous  rowing,  and  amid  much  peril,  was  brought 
up  to  the  others  about  dusk.  Tombleston  was  now 
perfectly  willing  to  fasten  his  craft  to  them,  and  they 
parted  no  more  during  the  voyage.  With  the  going 
down  of  the  sun  this  fight  ended.  None  of  the  crews 
•were  killed.  Stone,  the  three  men  of  Tombleston, 
and  a  negro,  were  wounded.  One  cow  was  shot  dead, 
two  or  three  were  wounded,  and  fourteen  horses  were 
injured  in  various  ways.  Whether  the  Indians  suffered 
any  is  not  known  ;  but  it  may  be  doubted  whether  they 
sustained  any  serious  loss. 

In  due  time  the  adventurer  arrived  in  Kentucky, 
where  he  proceeded  to  make  surveys,  and  to  locate  his 
land-warrants.  In  this  business  the  Rev.  Mr.  Earned 
assisted.  He  was  a  good  woodsman,  and  an  intelligent 
man.  He  was  very  poor,  and  Fitch  made  a  proposi- 
tion of  partnership  to  him.  In  addition  to  his  own 
land-warrants,  he  had  brought  with  him  from  Virginia 


72  LIFE    OF    JOHH    FITCH. 

Borne  which  belonged  to  other  persons,  upon  agreement 
that  for  his  trouble  and  skill  in  locating  them  upon 
good  tracts,  he  was  to  have  one-half  of  the  ground. 
He  now  proposed  that  Earned  should  explore  the  coun- 
try and  note  the  best  locations,  whilst  he  would  sur- 
vey the  tracts  which  were  chosen.  The  gratitude  of 
Mr.  Earned  at  this  offer  was  very  great,  and  he  em- 
braced it  with  alacrity,  being  promised  an  equal  share 
in  the  profit  of  the  undertaking.  The  two  accordingly 
set  about  the  employment  —  Earned  explored  and  Fitch 
surveyed.  They  were  engaged  in  this  task  during  the 
whole  of  1780.  In  the  spring  of  1781,  Fitch  returned 
to  Virginia,  where  he  had  his  surveys  recorded,  leaving 
Earned  in  Kentucky,  whom  he  expected  to  meet  again 
in  the  ensuing  spring.  Fitch  never  saw  him  again, 
but  in  1790  he  heard  that  he  had  done  exceedingly 
well,  and  was  worth  fifty  thousand  pounds.  The  lands 
thus  acquired  by  John  Fitch  amounted  to  sixteen  hun- 
dred acres.  Owing  doubtless  to  the  number  of  such 
claims,  the  warrants  and  returns  of  survey  were  filed, 
but  patents  were  not  prepared  for  many  months  after 
ward,  by  the  officers  at  Richmond.  They  bear  the 
following  dates :  —  For  three  hundred  acres  in  Jeffer- 
son County,  on  Coxe's  creek,  June  1,  1782  ;  for  three 
hundred  acres  on  the  south-west  branch  of  Simpson's 
creek,  Sept.  1,  1782 ;  for  one  thousand  acres  on  Coxe's 
creek,  Sept.  1,  1782.  In  a  power  of  attorney  to  Jo- 
nathan Longstreth,  given  in  1788,  Fitch  describes 
these  lands  as  located  in  Jefferson,  Nelson,  Lincoln, 
and  Fayette  Counties. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  73 


CHAPTER    V. 

THE  INDIAN'S    CAPTIVE. 

IN  the  summer  of  1781,  Fitch  returned  to  Bucks 
County,  where  he  applied  himself  to  settling  up  his 
business  and  collecting  all  the  money  he  could,  as  he 
believed  that  by  proper  purchases  of  land  in  Kentucky 
it  was  possible  for  him  to  lay  the  foundation  of  an  im- 
mense fortune.  He  was  not  as  successful  as  he  desired 
to  be,  but  he  obtained  about  £150  specie,  having  still 
some  interests  which  would  require  his  return.1  In 
thinking  over  what  would  be  the  best  method  of  in- 
vestment, he  determined  to  go  to  Fort  Pitt,  buy  flour, 
and  go  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans, 
intending  to  return  thence  to  Philadelphia.  He 
expected  to  be  able  to  finish  the  trip  before  the  end  of 
the  surveying  season.  Meanwhile  Earned  was  engaged 

1  Whilst  here,  his  heart  seems  to  have  yearned  towards  his 
family,  and  he  addressed  a  letter  to  his  son,  who  was  then  thir- 
teen years  old,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  WARMINSTER,  BUCKS  Co.,  June  16,  1781. 
"My  DARLING  BOY.  —  Believe  me,  when  I  took  you  in  my 
arms  and  kissed  you  for  the  last  time,  and  took  my  last  farewell, 
you  may  be  assured  that  I  felt  every  emotion  that  it  is  possible 
for  a  tender  father  to  feel.  How  my  heart  dissolved  into  tears, 
and  how  my  sinews  wanted  strength,  I  can  better  feel  than  ex- 
press. Be  assured,  your  father  loves  you,  and  that  there  ia 
nothing  would  make  him  more  happy  than  to  take  you  under 
his  parental  care."—  IVhiltlcfsry's  Life  of  Fitch.  Sparks'  Ameri- 
can Biography,  second  series,  Vol.  VI.,  page  98. 
7 


74  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

in  examining  lands^nd  exploring  in  Kentucky  for  their 
joint  benefit. 

The  scheme  was  accordingly  resolved  upon.  He 
reached  Fort  Pitt  early  in  March,  1782,  where  he  laid 
out  his  money  as  intended.  The  boat  was  a  large 
one,  and  was  chartered  by  four  adventurers,  but  Fitch 
had  the  greatest  portion  of  the  cargo.  The  captain 
was  Joseph  Parkerson,  a  person  unfitted  for  the  sta- 
tion, as  subsequent  events  clearly  established.  There 
were  nine  others  on  board,  viz.,  John  Fitch,  Capt.  Ma- 
gee,  Thomas  Bradley, Houston, Williams, 

Ealey, Sigwalt,  Wm.  Jarrad,  and  one  whose 

name  has  not  been  recorded. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  1782,  they  departed  from 
Pittsburg.  Stopping  at  Wheeling  island  for  a  short 
time,  they  left  that  place  in  company  with  three  other 
boats.  On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  they  were  oppo- 
site the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum.  Parkerson,  by 
mismanagement,  contrived  to  set  the  boat  so  hard  upon 
the  point  of  an  island  below  that  river  (having  extra 
oars  full-manned  at  the  time),  that  it  was  impossible  to 
get  it  off.  Capt.  Hopkins  and  two  men  who  were  in  a 
smaller  boat  near  to  them,  came  to  their  assistance,  but 
all  effort  was  unavailing.  After  wasting  much  time  in 
an  endeavor  to  push  off,  it  was  agreed  that  no  other 
plan  could  be  successful  than  the  removal  of  a  consi- 
derable portion  of  the  cargo.  All  hands  were  conse- 
quently put  to  the  labor  of  taking  out  the  flour.  They 
piled  it  upon  the  shore,  and  about  sunset  the  boat 
floated.  It  was  taken  down  the  river  about  forty  pole 
and  tied  to  a  sapling.  The  crew  were  very  much  fa- 
tigued, and  they  determined  they  would  re-load  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  75 

boat  with  the  flour  the  next  morning.  Yielding  to  the 
entreaty  of  Fitch,  who  was  thought  over-timid,  they 
kept  a  watch  that  night.  When  it  was  his  turn  to 
keep  guard,  he  procured  an  axe  and  laid  it  near  the 
bow-fastening,  so  that  it  might  be  used  in  case  of  ne- 
cessity. The  others  slept  soundly.  Nothing  was  ob- 
served to  mark  the  presence  of  any  danger. 

At  daylight  a  man  was  sent  out  to  scout  the  island, 
and  with  particular  caution  not  to  fire  his  gun  at  any 
game,  but  only  as  an  alarm.  Meanwhile,  the  rest  of 
the  crew  gathered  round  the  caboose,  and  indulged 
themselves  with  "a  hot  buttered  dram."  The  axe 
which  had  been  placed  in  the  bow  the  night  previous, 
was  now  sought  for  by  Fitch,  but  it  could  not  be  found. 
He  looked  for  it  all  over  the  boat,  but  could  not  dis- 
cover it.  He  did  not  ask  about  it  for  fear  of  being 
laughed  at  for  his  cowardice,  a  timidity  which  he  had 
afterwards  much  cause  to  regret.  The  scout  was  ab- 
sent a  longer  time  than  was  expected,  and  whilst  he 
was  away,  a  man  was  sent  out  of  Hopkins'  boat  which 
was  moored  near  the  place  where  the  flour  was  piled. 
No  sooner  had  he  gone  behind  the  barrels  than  he  was 
secured  by  some  Indians  who  were  lurking  there,  and 
he  was  taken  before  he  could  give  the  slightest  alarm. 
The  first  scout  had  been  captured  in  the  same  way. 
About  sixty  feet  from  the  boat  was  a  large  pile  of  drift- 
wood. Upon  the  top  of  this  the  Indians  managed  to 
crawl  unperceived,  and  the  first  intimation  which  the 
crew  had  of  the  danger,  was  by  a  volley  from  their 
rifles,  by  which  discharge  Capt.  Magee  was  instantly 
killed.  Directly  afterwards,  Thos.  Bradley,  with  more 
courage  than  prudence,  went  on  deck  to  cut  the  fasten- 


76  LIFE    OF    JOHX    FITCH. 

ing  of  the  boat,  and  was  shot  dead.  The  others  now 
retreated  below,  where  Fitch  and  Houston  stationed 
themselves  at  port-holes,  and  with  guns  ready  cocked 
watched  for  the  enemy.  The  others  yielded  themselves 
up  to  fear,  and  laid  down  close  in  the  bottom  of  the 
boat.  After  waiting  half  an  hour  without  perceiving 
the  foe,  who  laid  quiet  behind  the  bank,  Fitch  took  up 
a  tomahawk  and  began  to  cut  a  hole  through  the  bow 
of  the  boat  near  the  deck.  His  design  was  to  make 
an  aperture  large  enough  to  allow  the  passage  of  a 
knife  fastened  to  a  stick,  with  which  the  fastening 
might  be  cut.  He  succeeded  in  making  an  opening 
about  three  inches  square,  when  a  ball  from  a  gun  fired 
upon  shore  passed  through  the  plank  about  two  inches 
from  his  face.  He  was  cut  slightly  by  the  splinters. 
Finding  this  work  rather  dangerous,  he  got  two  boards 
and  set  them  on  each  side  of  the  hole.  He  was  cut- 
ting down  another,  which  was  too  long,  when  one  of 
the  prisoners  was  sent  on  the  bank  to  demand  their  sur- 
render. Fitch  entreated  Parkerson  not  to  listen  to 
him,  nor  to  think  of  yielding.  He  assured  him  that 
he  would  have  the  boat  loose  in  less  than  half  an  hour. 
He  told  him  that  there  was  nothing  to  fear,  as  the 
number  of  Indians  could  not  be  more  than  six,  judging 
from  the  reports  of  the  guns  which  were  fired.  He 
even  said,  that  if  all  on  board  would  rush  out,  they 
could  drive  the  Indians  off.  But  Parkerson  was  con- 
stitutionally timid,  and  while  Fitch  continued  cutting 
the  plank,  the  Captain  told  the  prisoner  on  shore  that 
he  would  surrender.  Being  nearest  the  bow,  he 
marched  out,  followed  by  five  others.  Fitch  and  Hous- 
ton remained,  but,  finding  their  companions  had  yielded, 


LIFEOFJOHNFITCII.  77 

the  former  said  to  the  latter,  "  If  it  must  be  so,  I  sup- 
pose we  had  better  march  out  too."  Hopkins  and  an- 
other, who  were  in  the  other  boat,  also  yielded. 
"Thus,"  said  Fitch  to  Mr.  Irwin,  "we  ran  aground  for 
want  of  judgment,  and  gave  ourselves  up  prisoners  to 
the  savages  for  want  of  courage,  as  nine  stout  healthy 
men  of  us,  all  well  armed,  marched  out  to  eight  In- 
dians, which  was  more  than  I  expected  there  was,  as  I 
imagined  they  all  fired  at  the  first  shot." 

He  blamed  himself  that  he  did  not  ask  in  the  morn- 
ing for  the  axe  for  fear  of  being  laughed  at  as  a  cow- 
ard. If  he  had  found  it,  he  might  have  cut  the  boat 
loose  at  the  first  fire,  and  not  been  made  a  prisoner. 
He  also  regretted  that  he  did  not  request  Houston  to 
stand  by  him  when  the  others  left  the  boat,  as  all  their 
loaded  guns  remained  ;  "but,"  he  said,  "  I  had  not  that 
presence  of  mind,  and  so  I  became  a  captive  on  the 
22d  of  March,  1782." 

It  was  somewhere  near  the  site  of  the  present  town 
of  Marietta,  in  Ohio,  where  this  disaster  occurred,  and 
the  eleven  unlucky  adventurers  had  to  prepare  for  a 
march  through  a  wilderness  which  is  now  included  in 
the  finest  portion  of  Ohio  and  Michigan,  until  they 
reached  Detroit.  The  Indians  were  not  harsh  towards 
them  after  they  submitted.  The  party  was  commanded 
by  three  principal  braves,  who  were  named  Capt. 
Bnffaloe,  Capt.  Crow,  and  Capt.  Washington.  They 
remained  on  shore  for  half  an  hour  before  they  went 
upon  the  boats.  Their  first  care  was  to  scalp  Magee 
and  Bradley,  after  which  their  bodies  were  thrown 
overboard.  They  then  went  below  and  brought  out 
the  goods,  which  were  taken  on  shore ;  they  carried 
7* 


78  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

off,  also,  all  the  blankets,  guns,  and  ammunition.  After 
this,  C;ipt.  Crow  tied  a  war-club  to  the  steering-oar, 
and  set  the  boat  adrift.  Flour,  which  was  on  board  of 
Hopkins'  boat,  was  also  taken  and  concealed  upon  the 
bank.  The  savages  then  held  a  consultation  as  to  what 
they  should  do.  The  majority  of  the  prisoners  must 
have  been  in  an  awful  .state  of  suspense ;  but  Fitch,  who 
was  very  drowsy  in  consequence  of  having  been  on  the 
watch  during  the  previous  night,  asked  permission  of 
Capt.  Crow  to  lie  down  and  sleep.  This  request  was 
granted,  and  wrapping  an  old  camlet  cloak  about  him, 
he  consigned  himself  to  slumber.  In  the  meanwhile, 
Capt.  Buffaloe  having  helped  himself  freely  to  liquor, 
which  was  among  the  stores,  became  drunk.  In  that 
condition  he  was  not  very  amiable  in  his  temper.  Per- 
ceiving the  prostrate  prisoner,  he  rushed  toward  him, 
exclaiming  in  a  language  not  understood,  "Zeak! 
Zeak  !"  Fitch  opened  his  eyes,  sat  up  and  said  "no," 
when  Buffaloe,  again  saying  "Zeak,"  drew  a  tomahawk 
and  aimed  a  fair  blow  directly  at  the  forehead  of  the 
captive.  Crow  was  by,  and  rushing  forward  he  seized 
the  arm  of  Buffaloe  in  time  to  prevent  the  fatal  conse- 
quence. After  this  incident,  there  was  little  desire  to 
attempt  to  sleep  again,  and  the  prisoner  went  and  sat 
down  with  his  fellows.  The  Indians  now  began  to 
make  up  the  goods  in  bundles,  graduating  the  weight 
according  to  the  apparent  strength  of  those  who  were 
to  carry  them.  Some  of  the  prisoners  were  loaded 
with  thirty  pounds,  but  Fitch,  who  was  not  robust,  was 
only  burthened  with  a  pack  weighing  seven  or  eight 
pounds.  The  Indians  themselves  took  much  heavier 
bundles,  some  of  which  weighed  as  much  as  sixty 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  79 

pounds.  Their  superfluous  clothing  was  then  taken 
from  the  captives;  Fitch  lost  his  camlet  cloak,  and 
what  was  worse,  his  cap  and  night-cap  were  seized,  and 
without  any  covering  for  his  head,  he  commenced  the 
tedious  journey.  They  were  also  bound,  hut  very 
slightly,  and  more  as  a  sign  of  captivity  than  of  ser- 
vice. Some  were  tied  with  rope-yarns.  Fitch  was 
secured  with  a  hark  string,  not  thicker  than  a  goose- 
quill,  which  he  could  have  snapped  with  one  finger.  A 
division  was  also  made  of  the  prisoners  among  the  cap- 
tors. Fitch  and  six  others  were  assigned  to  Capt.  Buf- 
faloe.  C.ipt.  Crow  had  two,  and  Capt.  Washington 
two.  They  then  took  up  their  toilsome  march  towards 
the  north-west.  Strict  precautions  were  used  through- 
out this  journey.  Scouts  were  sent  out  in  front,  and 
two  Indians  remained  behind  the  party  all  day,  and 
never  came  up  until  after  dark,  and  when  they  were 
prepared  to  encamp  for  the  night. 

About  an  hour  before  sundown  they  came  to  a  camp 
where  they  had  their  suppers.  All  ate  heartily,  and 
sat  about  the  ground  until  it  was  time  to  sleep.  The 
prisoners  were  now  pinioned  with  stout  cords,  and  then 
a  rope  was  run  from  one  to  the  other,  until  all  were 
fastened  together.  They  were  commanded  to  lie  down 
on  their  backs,  and  their  feet  were  secured  in  the  same 
way.  They  were  unused  to  such  confinement,  and  the 
ligatures  being  very  tight  some  of  them  suffered  ex- 
cruciating pain. 

In  the  morning  they  started  early,  and  marched  all 
day  without  any  special  incident.  At  night,  Captain 
Crow  took  the  scalps  of  Magee  and  Bradley,  cut  them 
in  a  circular  form  and  stretched  them  upon  little  hoops 


80  LIFEOFJOIINFITCH. 

about  three  inches  in  diameter,  which  were  painted  red. 
The  pi-isoners  were  again  secured,  and  slept  as  they 
had  done  on  the  previous  night.  The  only  dependence 
they  had  for  provisions  was  upon  the  game  which  they 
might  he  ahle  to  shoot.  As  they  advanced  further 
upon  the  road,  and  came  near  the  Indian  towns,  these 
supplies  hecame  stinted.  A  buck  was  shot  on  the  fifth 
day,  which  was  the  last  supply  of  importance  which 
they  received.  Food  became  scarce,  the  party  being 
nineteen  in  number,  and  the  prisoners  suffered  severely. 
The  captors  dealt  fairly  by  them,  and  there  was  an 
equal  division  of  what  there  was  to  eat  among  all 
alike.  Fitch,  who  seems  to  have  had  a  good  appetite 
on  all  occasions,  felt  these  privations  acutely,  and  lost 
his  strength.  Deprived  of  a  covering  for  his  head,  he 
caught  a  severe  cold,  and  his  eyes  became  so  sore  that 
he  could  scarcely  see.  During  the  latter  part  of  the 
march  the  weather  was  wet  and  drizzling,  and  the 
prisoners  laid  down  at  night  in  water  an  inch  deep, 
and  were  compelled  to  bear  the  pelting  of  snow,  mixed 
with  rain,  to  their  grievous  discomfort.  The  Indians, 
who  had  treated  them  with  considerable  kindness,  now 
became  more  strict  and  severe,  and  in  addition  to 
being  pinioned  and  hoppled  at  night,  cords  were  tied 
round  their  necks.  Before  they  reached  the  first 
Indian  town,  Captain  Buffaloe  came  to  Fitch,  who  was 
dressed  in  a  striped  linsey-woolsey  coatee  and  jacket, 
with  home-made  silver  buttons.  He  cut  off  all  the 
buttons  on  this  coat.  Giving  the  prisoner  the  knife, 
he  motioned  him  to  cut  off  those  upon  his  jacket,  and 
by  signs  directed  him  to  put  them  in  his  pocket.  The 
intention  of  this  was  to  prevent  his  being  stripped  of 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  81 

his  clothing  by  other  Indians,  in  whose  eyes  the  buttons 
would  have  been  sufficiently  dazzling  to  incite  them  to 
deprive  the  poor  captive  of  all  his  garments.  Fitch 
appreciated  the  kind  motive  of  this  act,  and  was  duly 
grateful. 

On  the  twelfth  day  of  their  march,  they  reached  the 
first  town  of  the  Delawares.  Before  approaching  it 
Captain  Crow  had  cut  a  straight  stick,  about  twelve 
feet  long.  To  this  he  attached  the  prepared  scalps  of 
Magee  and  Bradley,  which  were  tied  to  strings,  and 
fastened  to  the  pole  six  or  eight  inches  apart.  When 
the  party  approached  the  first  town,  they  were  halted 
three  or  four  poles  from  it,  and  thirteen  hallooes  were 
given  by  the  captors,  which  signified  the  number  of 
prisoners  and  scalps. 

A  boy  of  ten  or  twelve  years  of  age  came  out,  and 
seizing  the  scalp-pole  ran  with  it  into  the  principal 
house.  There  were  no  Indians  in  it,  there  being  a  grand 
council  of  the  nation  at  another  town,  to  which  the 
chief  warriors  had  gone.  A  large  number  of  Indians 
flocked  around  them,  however,  and  stripped  them  of  a 
good  part  of  their  clothing,  but  no  further  harm  was 
done  them.  At  this  town  they  heard,  for  the  second 
time,  of  the  massacre  of  the  Moravian  Indians  on  the 
Muskingum,  at  which  the  Delawares  seemed  to  be  very 
much  enraged.1  That  night  they  were  more  severely 

1  The  particulars  of  this  atrocious  barbarity  are  thus  related 
in  Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  Ohio,  page  784: — 

"  Several  depredations  had  been  committed  by  hostile  Indians 
about  this  time  [1782]  on  the  frontier  inhabitants  of  western 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia,  who  determined  to  retaliate.  A 
company  of  one  hundred  men  was  raised  and  placed  under  the 


82  -LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

treated  than  usual,  and  they  drew  from  the  seeming 
temper  of  the  Indians,  very  sorrowful  forebodings  of 
the  nature  of  the  usage  which  they  were  about  to  re- 
ceive. The  next  day  they  were  marched  toward  the 

command  of  Colonel  Williamson,  as  a  corps  of  volunteer  militia. 
They  set  out  for  the  Moravian  country  on  the  Tuscarora  [Olna], 
and  arrived  within  a  mile  of  Gnadenhutten  on  the  night  of  the 
5th  of  March.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  finding  the  Indians 
were  employed  in  their  cornfield  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
sixteen  of  Williamson's  men  crossed,  two  at  a  time,  over  in  a 
large  sap  trough  or  vessel  used  for  retaining  sugar-water,  taking 
their  rifles  with  them.  The  remainder  went  into  the  village, 
where  they  found  a  man  and  a  woman,  both  of  whom  they 
killed.  The  sixteen  on  the  west  side,  on  approaching  the  Indians, 
found  them  more  numerous  than  they  expected.  They  had  their 
arms  with  them  both  for  purposes  of  protection  and  for  killing 
game.  The  whites  accosted  them  kindly,  told  them  they  had 
come  to  take  them  to  a  place  where  they  would  be  in  future  pro- 
tected, and  advised  them  to  quit  work  and  return  with  them  to 
the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Pitt.  Some  of  the  Indians  had  been 
taken  to  that  place  in  the  preceding  year,  had  been  well  treated 
by  the  American  governor  of  the  fort,  and  had  been  dismissed 
with  tokens  of  warm  friendship.  Under  these  circumstances,  it 
is  not  surprising  that  the  unsuspecting  Moravian  Indians  readily 
surrendered  their  arms,  and  at  once  consented  to  be  controlled 
by  the  advice  of  Colonel  Williamson  and  his  men.  An  Indian 
messenger  was  despatched  to  Salem,  to  apprize  the  brethren  there 
of  the  new  arrangement,  and  both  companies  then  returned  to 
Gnadenhutten.  On  reaching  the  village,  a  number  of  mounted 
militia  started  for  the  Salem  settlement,  but  ere  they  reached  it 
found  that  the  Moravian  Indians  at  that  place  had  already  left 
their  cornfields,  by  the  advice  of  the  messenger,  and  were  on 
the  road  to  join  their  brethren  at  Gnadenhutten.  Measures  had 
been  adopted  by  the  militia  to  secure  the  Indians  whom  they 
had  first  decoyed  into  their  power.  They  were  bound,  confined 
in  two  houses,  and  well  guarded.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Indians 
from  Salem  (their  arms  having  been  previously  secured  without 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  83 

principal  town  of  the  Delawares,  where  there  was  a 
large  council  of  the  several  nations.  Their  masters, 
knowing  what  was  intended  for  them,  halted  them, 
before  they  reached  it  and  took  their  bundles  from 

suspicion  of  any  hostile  intention),  they  were  also  tethered  and 
divided  between  the  two  prison-houses  —  the  males  in  one  and 
the  females  in  the  other.  The  number  thus  confined  in  both, 
including  men,  women,  and  children,  has  been  estimated  at 
from  ninety  to  ninety-six. 

"A  council  was  then  held  to  determine  how  the  Moravian 
Indians  should  be  disposed  of.  This'  self-constituted  military 
court  embraced  both  officers  and  privates.  The  late  Dr.  Dod- 
dridge,  in  his  published  notes  on  Indian  wars,  says  :  '  Colonel 
Williamson  put  the  question,  Whether  the  Moravian  Indians 
should  be  taken  prisoners  to  Fort  Pitt,  or  put  to  death  f  request- 
ing those  who  were  in  favor  of  saving  their  lives,  to  step  out  and 
form  a  second  rank.  Only  eighteen  out  of  the  whole  number 
stepped  forth  as  advocates  of  Mercy.  In  these  the  feelings  of 
humanity  were  not  extinct.  In  the  majority,  which  was  large, 
no  sympathy  was  manifested.  These  resolved  to  murder  (for 
no  other  word  can  express  the  act)  the  whole  of  the  Christian 
Indians  in  their  custody.  Among  these  were  several  who  had 
contributed  to  aid  the  missionaries  in  the  work  of  conversion 
and  civilization,  two  of  whom  emigrated  from  New  Jersey,  after 
the  death  of  their  spiritual  pastor,  the  Rev.  David  Brainard. 
One  woman,  who  could  speak  good  Englrsh,  knelt  before  the 
commander  and  begged  his  protection.  Her  supplication  was 
unavailing.  They  were  ordered  to  prepare  for  death.  But  the 
warning  had  been  anticipated.  Their  firm  belief  in  their  new 
creed  was  shown  forth  in  the  sad  hour  of  their  tribulation,  by 
religious  exercises  of  preparation.  The  orisons  of  these  devoted 
people  were  already  ascending  to  the  throne  of  the  Most  High — 
the  sound  of  the  Christian's  hymn,  and  the  Christian's  prayer, 
found  an  echo  in  the  surrounding  woods,  but  no  responsive  feel- 
ing in  the  bosoms  of  their  executioners.  With  gun,  and  spear, 
and  tomahawk,  and  scalping-knife,  the  work  of  death  progressed 
in  these  slaughter-houses,  till  not  a  sigh  or  moan  was  heard  to 


84  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

them.  The  shoes  were  taken  from  Fitch  and  a  pair  of 
moccasins  given  him,  he  did  not  know  exactly  why,  but 
soon  was  better  instructed.  Captain  Crow  was  a  Dela- 
ware Indian,  born  in  New  Jersey,  who  had  come  west- 
ward to  the  chief  settlements  of  his  people.  He  could 
speak  English  very  well,  and  before  they  reached  the 
great  town  he  told  the  prisoners  that  if  any  Indians 
came  out  to  abuse  them,  they  must  run  to  the  long 
house  at  the  end  of  the  village,  and  after  they  got  in 
it  nobody  would  hurt  them.  They  marched  on  coolly 
until  they  were  within  sight  of  the  town,  and  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  it,  when  their  captors  gave  the 
scalp  halloo,  a  practice  in  which  they  often  indulged, 
and  which,  therefore,  attracted  but  little  attention  from 
4he  prisoners.  Passing  on  a  little  further,  they  saw 
the  Council  House  with  crowds  of  savages  around  it, 
and  distant  from  them  about  fifty  pole.  The  halloo 
was  repeated  thirteen  times,  and  when  the  last  one  was 
given  all  the  Indians  joined  in  a  loud  shout.  A  stout 
savage,  painted  black,  and  entirely  naked,  except  a 

proclaim  the  existence  of  human  life  within — all,  save  two.  Two 
Indian  boys,  escaped,  as  if  by  a  miracle,  to  be  witnesses  in  after 
times  of  the  savage  cruelty  of  the  white  man  toward  their  un- 
fortunate race. 

"  Thus  were  upwards  of  ninety  human  beings  hurried  to  an 
untimely  grave  by  those  who  should  have  been  their  legitimate 
protectors.  After  committing  the  barbarous  act,  Williamson 
and  his  men  set  fire  to  the  houses  containing  the  dead,  and  then 
marched  off  for  Shoenbrun,  the  upper  Indian  town.  But  here 
the  news  of  their  atrocious  deeds  had  preceded  them.  The  in- 
habitants had  all  fled,  and  with  them  fled  for  a  time  the  hopes 
of  the  missionaries  to  establish  a  settlement  of  Christian  Indians 
on  the  Tuscarawas.  The  fruit  of  ten  years'  labor  in  the  cause 
of  civilization  was  apparently  lost." 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  85 

breech-cloth,  now  ran  like  a  deer  towards  Captain  Crow, 
and  seizing  the  pole  with  the  scalps,  sped  swiftly  with 
it  towards  the  Council  House.  When  the  captives 
reached  the  top  of  a  hill,  they  saw  that  he  was  near 
the  building,  and,  to  their  great  dismay,  they  saw  a 
large  body  of  Indians  rushing  towards  them  with 
terrible  shouts.  The  prisoners  had  been  marching  in 
single  file  until  this  time,  but  when  the  first  one  of 
them  was  reached  by  the  Indians,  and  was  struck  by 
the  foremost,  the  party  took  to  their  heels  and  scoured 
across  the  plain  towards  the  haven  of  safety.  They 
were  not  severely  used — Fitch  was  slapped  by  several 
with  open  hands  on  the  sides,  face  and  back.  One 
brave  caught  him  by  the  hair,  pulled  him  to  the  ground, 
and  then  abandoned  him.  He  scampered  on  as  fast  as. 
he  could,  but  near  the  house  was  doomed  to  receive 
the  severer  punishment  of  the  "gentler  sex."  These 
specimens  of  womanhood  were  armed  with  thick  sticks 
about  the  stoutness  of  walking-canes.  With  these 
cudgels  they  struck  the  fugitive  as  he  passed,  with  their 
hardest  blows.  About  twenty  feet  from  the  door  he 
stumbled  and  fell  over  a  log ;  he  did  not  get  up,  but 
scrambled  in  upon  his  hands  and  feet,  and,  having  got 
his  head  and  a  part  of  his  body  in  the  doorway,  sup- 
posed he  was  safe.  But,  like  the  ostrich  under  a  simi- 
lar miscalculation,  he  was  soon  satisfied  of  his  mistake 
by  some  very  sturdy  thwacks. 


86  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

CHAPTER   VI. 

ADVENTURES   AMONG  THE   SAVAGES. 

THE  Council  House  was  about  sixty  feet  long,  and 
twenty  broad,  having  large  doors  at  each  end.  When 
the  prisoners  entered  they  found  it  very  much  crowded 
with  chiefs  and  warriors.  The  first  ceremony  observed 
was  the  bringing  of  a  number  of  kettles  containing 
cooked  hominy,  of  which  the  chiefs  partook,  and  of 
which  the  prisoners  were  invited  to  participate.  After 
a  long  silence,  the  Indians  began  to  speak  to  each 
Bother  in  a  solemn  manner.  The  captives  were  unable 
to  understand  their  remarks,  but  the  gestures  used 
caused  them  considerable  alarm.  The  massacre  by 
Williamson  was  a  matter  which,  it  was  guessed,  occupied 
the  greater  part  of  their  deliberations,  and  it  was 
feared  that  a  bloody  revenge  would  be  wreaked  upon 
those  who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  aggrieved. 
The  debates  continued  without  intermission  all  the 
afternoon,  but  were  broken  off  at  sunset.  The  prisoners 
were  ignorant  of  the  resolution  which  the  Indians  had 
taken,  and  they  were  depressed  in  spirit.  The  Council 
House  was  now  prepared  for  a  grand  dance.  Six  small 
fires  were  built  upon  the  earthen  floor  at  equal  distances 
from  each  other.  Three  or  four  women  commenced 
the  movement  to  the  rude  music  produced  by  rattling 
a  calabash  filled  with  beans  or  pebbles,  and  the  sound 
of  a  drum  made  by  drawing  a  skin  over  a  tub.  The 
step  was  regular,  the  dancers  lifting  their  feet  as  if 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  87 

marching,  but  only  advancing  some  three  or  four 
inches  by  a  graceful  spring,  which  brought  both  feet 
together.  As  they  became  warmer  they  threw  off  their 
blankets,  dexterously  twining  them  around  their  waists 
and  securing  them  there.  Those  who  commenced, 
danced  around  one  fire,  and  their  number  was  increased 
by  young  girls  who  had  scarcely  seen  thirteen  years, 
and  women  of  all  ages  up  to  seventy.  When  those 
who  were  round  one  fire  increased  to  twenty,  they 
separated  and  danced  in  half  circles  round  two  fires. 
The  men  had  looked  upon  this  preparatory  ceremony 
with  apparent  unconcern ;  but  now,  they  themselves 
undertook  the  task.  Each  warrior  sang  his  own  song, 
and  his  highest  ambition  was  to  exceed  his  companions 
in  the  grotesqueness  and  variety  of  his  capers.  In 
these  exhibitions  they  were  exceedingly  extravagant. 
Some  of  them  would  stoop  and  put  their  heads  into  the 
fire,  and  jump  up  with  prodigious  leaps,  yelling  with 
wild  fury  at  the  top  of  their  voices.  The  scene  was 
strange  and  impressive.  The  ear  was  deafened  with 
the  sound  of  rattling  calabashes  and  beating  drums, 
mingled  with  barbarous  songs  and  outlandish  shouts. 
The  eye  was  fatigued  with  a  variety  of  motion,  in 
which  stalwart  forms  in  picturesque  and  active  exercise 
were  for  a  moment  lighted  up  with  the  glare  of  the 
flames,  and  then  hidden  from  the  sight  amid  the  throng. 
The  scene  made  a  very  deep  impression  upon  the 
memory  of  the  captives,  which  was  more  vivid  because 
they  supposed  it  was  a  prelude  to  tortures  to  which 
they  feared  that  they  would  be  subjected.  They  were 
invited  to  participate,  and  all  thought  it  prudent  to  do 
so,  except  Fitch,  who  was  sulky  and  stubborn,  and  who 


88  v         LIFE    OF    JO  UN    FITCH. 

brooded  angrily  over  the  situation  in  which  they  were 
placed  hy  the  barbarity  and  inhumanity  of  Colonel 
Williamson.  He  expected  that  he  would  be  put  to 
death,  and  he  cared  not  how  soon,  and  was  unwilling 
to  do  anything  which  might  cause  the  savages  to  look 
favorably  upon  his  condition.  Whilst  he  was  thus 
moodily  engaged  in  thought,  a  portion  of  his  apparel 
awakened  the  avarice  of  one  of  the  Indians.  The 
coveted  article  was  no  less  a  garment  than  his  breeches, 
of  linsey-woolsey,  which,  although  threadbare  and 
broken  at  the  knees,  was  desired  by  one  of  the  chiefs. 
He  sent  an  Indian  to  Fitch,  with  a  valuable  breech- 
cloth  richly  decorated  with  wampum,  and  proposed  an 
exchange.  This  request  was  unceremoniously  refused 
by  the  captive,  and  he  determined  that  he  would  sooner 
die  than  do  the  least  thing  to  please  those  whose  power 
over  him  was  absolute.  What  the  result  would  have 
been  cannot  be  told,  but  the  chief,  more  reasonable 
than  was  expected,  again  sent  his  agent  to  another 
prisoner  with  a  like  demand,  but  did  not  offer  the 
breech-cloth  in  barter.  The  latter  complied  at  once, 
and  slipping  off  the  envied  treasure,  it  was  borne 
away  in  triumph  by  the  new  owner. 

After  the  dance  was  concluded  the  Indians  withdrew^ 
and  the  prisoners  remained  in  the  Council  House  all 
night.  The  next  morning,  when  the  chiefs  assembled, 
persons  were  brought  there  who  could  read  English, 
and  the  writings  and  papers  found  on  Fitch  and  his 
companions  were  read.  It  seemed  that  they  were  sus- 
pected to  have  belonged  to  Williamson's  party,  but  it 
was  discovered  by  the  nature  of  the  papers  they  bore 
that  they  "were  no  warriors,"  "although,"  remarked 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  89 

Fitch,  "they  might  have  known  that  before."  Another 
debate  an  hour  long  ensued,  after  which  the  captives 
were  taken  out  of  the  Council  House.1  Captain  Crow 
gave  up  his  two  captives  to  one  of  the  chiefs,  and 
Captain  Buffaloe  parted  with  two  which  belonged  to 
him.  The  two  which  were  assigned  to  Captain  Wash- 
ington, and  the  five  which  remained  to  Captain  Buffaloe, 
were  now  marched  to  the  town  in  which  the  latter 
resided.  On  the  way,  Crow  told  them  that  they  had 
been  in  great  danger  of  death,  and  it  was  their  belief, 
from  what  he  said,  that  the  four  prisoners  who  were 
left  behind  were  relinquished  in  order  to  save  the  lives 
of  all  of  them,  as  captives  then  brought  a  good  price 
at  Detroit.  At  Buffaloe's  town  they  halted  ;  Captain 
Washington  went  on  with  his  two  prisoners,  but  those 
who  remained  were  put  to  work  in  building  a  house  for 
the  old  chief.  Fitch  refused  to  labor  on  account  of  the 
weak  and  miserable  condition  in  which  he  was ;  not 
only  on  account  of  his  sore  eyes,  but  from  bodily  suffer- 
ing. Parkerson  and  Hopkins  quarrelled  with  him, 
during  the  course  of  which  controversy  reference  was 
made  by  Fitch  to  their  cowardice  at  the  time  of  cap- 
ture, which  incensed  them  very  much.  Buffaloe  had 
but  a  scanty  stock  of  provisions  for  the  sustenance  of 
so  many  persons,  and  their  usual  rations  were  a  half- 
pint  of  dried  corn  a  day,  pounded  into  hominy  and 
boiled.  They  suffered  very  much  for  want  of  salt,  to 
which  they  had  been  accustomed,  and  when  the  Indians 

1  The  Delaware  towns  were  mostly  situated  within  the  boun- 
daries of  the  present  county  of  Delaware,  Ohio.  The  present 
town  of  Delaware  occupies  a  portion  of  the  site  of  an  Indian 
village. 

8* 


90  LIFE    OF    JOHN    PITCH. 

occasionally  killed  cranes  or  turkeys,  and  brought  them 
to  be  cooked,  they  were  boiled  in  fresh  water,  which 
made  them  tasteless  and  somewhat  unpalatable,  but, 
nevertheless,  welcomed  by  hunger.  Being  just  able  to 
walk  about,  Fitch  gathered  wild  onions  and  artichokes 
for  his  companions,  and  one  day  he  caught  five  or  six 
fish  with  a  pin  hook.  Buffaloe  used  no  severity  towards 
him,  but  got  some  calamus-root  which  he  made  him 
take  as  a  tonic  and  strengthener.  They  remained  at 
this  town  some  ten  or  twelve  days.  While  there, 
Buffaloe  was  attended  by  a  likely  young  squaw.  His 
wife  was  in  another  town  about  five  or  six  miles  off,  but 
her  husband  did  not  visit  her  during  the  whole  time, 
nor  did  the  wife  intrude  herself  upon  him.  When  they 
left  Buffaloe's  town,  they  marched  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  village  in  which  the  wife  was  living.  About  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  they  came  to  a  camp  where 
they  stopped.  After  they  had  been  there  some  time, 
the  wife  came  up,  carrying  a  fine  child  about  eight 
months  old.  She  approached  the  chief  in  silence,  and 
sat  down.  No  word  passed  between  them  for  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  when  they  began  to  converse  in  a 
low  musical  tone  —  such  being  the  Indian  mode  of 
meeting  among  the  best  friends.  The  young  squaw 
now  withdrew  to  a  distance,  and  that  night  slept  about 
ten  feet  from  the  chief.  In  the  morning  Buffaloe  killed 
a  deer.  He  gave  his  wife  one  half  of  it ;  she  withdrew 
well  pleased,  and  returned  to  the  village  leaving  the 
young  squaw  with  her  husband,  who  accompanied  him 
the  rest  of  the  journey.  There  seemed  to  be  no  ill 
feeling  between  these  women,  and  the  wife  was  thereby 
relieved  of  drudgery  which  she  would  have  been  com- 


LIFEOFJOHNFITCH.  91 

polled  to  undergo  if  she  had  gone  along.  Beside  the 
young  woman,  Buffaloe  was  attended  by  two  nephews, 
nine  and  eleven  years  old,  and  the  five  prisoners 
trudged  on  submissive  to  this  escort  of  one  old  Indian, 
a  woman,  and  two  boys. 

Their  route  lay  for  several  days  through  wide  prai- 
ries, the  only  objects  upon  which  to  attract  the  sight 
were  ''islands,"  covered  with  hazel  bushes  and  trees. 
The  weather  was  wet,  and  the  rain  was  constant.  They 
marched  in  water,  generally  ankle-deep,  sometimes  as 
high  as  their  knees,  and  even  up  to  their  waistbands. 
Provisions  became  very  scarce  toward  the  latter  part 
of  their  journey,  Buffaloe  not  ])eing  able  to  leave  the 
prisoners  and  kill  game  for  fear  that  they  might  escape. 
Parkerson  and  Hopkins  proposed  that  they  should  rise 
upon  them,  but  it  was  sagaciously  opposed  by  Fitch, 
who  thought  that,  if  at  liberty,  they  would  only  die  of 
starvation.  On  the  seventh  day  they  came  to  the 
Maumee  river,  about  eighteen  miles  from  Lake  Erie. 
A  trading  post  was  here  established,  and  kept  by  Saun- 
ders  and  Cochran,  at  an  Ottaway  town.  The  prisoners 
were  ferried  across  in  a  bark  canoe.  Here  was  obtained 
a  reasonable  allowance  of  provisions.  They  remained 
at  the  store  and  lodged  there  for  three  days.  Buffaloe 
encamped  upon  a  hill,  about  forty  pole  from  the  house. 
While  he  was  there,  a  number  of  Delawares  returned 
from  Detroit,  and  pitched  their  tents  near  Buffaloe. 
This  party  amused  themselves  by  getting  drunk,  and 
they  made  a  great  noise.  A  servant  of  Saunders  was 
so  imprudent  as  to  go  among  them,  and  one  of  the 
Indians  supposing  him  to  belong  to  the  prisoners,  struck 
him  with  his  tomahawk,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 


92  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

died  the  next  day.  He  managed  to  get  down  to  the 
house  after  he  was  wounded,  and  Saunders  and  Coch- 
ran,  taking  their  tomahawks,  went  among  the  Dela- 
wares.  They  found  the  temper  of  the  Indians  to  be 
very  dangerous,  and  they  soon  returned  with  marks  of 
fear  upon  their  countenances.  Scarcely  had  they  got 
in  the  house,  before  the  Indians  upon  the  hill  gave  the 
scalp  halloo,  repeating  it  five  times  according  to  the 
number  of  prisoners.  Fitch  knew  that  some  serious 
difficulty  might  be  expected,  and,  seizing  an  axe,  he 
slipped  through  the  window  of  the  kitchen  into  the 
garden,  where  he  had  seen  some  bean-poles,  and  cut- 
ting them  into  clubs  he  took  them  into  the  house  to  his 
companions.  He  told  the  latter  what  he  feared,  but 
they  only  laughed  at  his  frenzy.  He  had  not  re- 
turned more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  he  again 
heard  the  scalp  halloo  and  war-whoop,  and  going  into 
the  next  room  he  got  through  a  window  into  the  yard, 
taking  the  axe  with  him.  He  went  to  the  stable,  where 
he  fastened  himself  in,  and  put  affairs  in  as  good  a 
posture  of  defence  as  possible.  These  hurried  pre- 
parations were  not  made  before  the  whole  body  of  In- 
dians were  heard  coming  down  the  hill  with  horrible 
yells.  The  inhabitants  of  the  Ottaway  town  were 
alarmed.  Saunders  and  Cochran  had  been  adopted  in 
their  tribe,  and  the  warriors  rallied  round  them  in  order 
to  pi-event  injury.  When  the  Delawares  approached 
the  house,  they  saw  a  superior  force  posted  to  receive 
them.  Saunders  stood  by  the  prisoners,  tomahawk  in 
hand.  The  Delawares  were  very  angry,  and  menaced 
the  captives,  but  were  held  in  check  by  the  bold  front 
of  the  Ottaways,  who  were  an  overmatch  for  them. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  93 

Finally,  they  changed  their  intention,  and  returned  to 
the  camp,  where  they  kept  up  the  frolic  all  night  with 
much  noise.  Fitch  remained  in  the  stable,  half  asleep, 
being  occasionally  aroused  from  his  drowsiness  by  the 
scalp  halloo,  which  was  shouted  many  times.  In  the 
hostile  demonstration  which  had  been  made,  Buffaloe 
had  taken  no  part,  and  he  was  not  seen.  The  Dela- 
wares  were  still  in  full  riot  at  sunrise,  when,  after  an- 
other scalp  halloo,  the  old  chief  was  discovered  coming 
down  the  hill,  and  when  near  the  bottom,  he  too  broke 
out  with  the  dreadful  yell.  Coming  to  the  house,  he 
spoke  very  angrily  to  the  prisoners,  and  ordered  them 
to  go  up  to  the  camp,  and  drove  them  out  of  the  room. 
Fitch,  who  was  in  the  yard,  and  heard  all  that  occurred, 
thought  he  would  have  to  meet  his  fate  sooner  or  later, 
and  that  it  was  best  to  do  what  he  could  to  avert  it. 
He  therefore  got  in  the  window,  and  going  into  the 
room  where  Buffaloe  was,  put  on  an  air  of  cheerfulness 
and  said  —  "  How  do  you  do  this  morning,  Capt.  Buf- 
faloe?" The  latter  was  sitting  in  a  chair  and  talking 
to  an  Indian  trader.  Getting  a  low  stool,  Fitch  placed 
himself  down  by  the  chief,  laid  his  arm  over  his  bare 
thighs,  and  sat  gazing  in  his  face.  When  Buffaloe  got 
up,  he  made  motions  that  his  prisoner  should  remain. 
As  soon  as  he  was  gone,  the  trader  told  Fitch  that  the 
chief  requested  him  to  tell  him  not  to  leave  the  house, 
as  "he  always  spoke  good"  to  him,  and  "the  Indians 
were  all  mad  !"  Fearful  that  by  this  time  the  prison- 
ers had  all  been  massacred,  he  run  to  the  door,  where 
he  told  Hopkins  what  had  occurred,  who  received  the 
information  with  a  sneer  at  the  seeming  friendship 
manifested  towards  his  informant.  When  the  captives 


94  LIFEOFJOHNFITCH. 

had  been  excluded  from  the  house,  they  had  the  good 
sense  to  disregard  the  command  to  go  to  the  camp,  for 
if  they  had  done  so,  the  whole  party  would  most  pro- 
bably have  been  murdered.  When  Buffaloe  returned 
to  the  hill,  and  found  that  his  directions  had  been  dis- 
obeyed, he  was  much  enraged.  He  returned  and 
searched,  with  tomahawk  and  knife,  for  the  skulking 
captives,  and  chased  such  of  them  as  he  could  find,  in 
order  to  drive  them  to  the  place  of  execution.  The 
prisoners  dodged,  and  being  generally  fleet  of  foot, 
managed  to  keep  out  of  his  way.  Wm.  Jarrad  had  a 
very  narrow  escape.  He  was  a  short,  clumsy  man, 
and  could  not  run  fast.  Buffaloe  started  him  in  a  cor- 
ner of  the  garden,  and  being  swifter,  soon  outran  him. 

Having  got  before  him,  and  having  the  knife  in  his 
right  hand,  he  aimed  a  back-handed  blow,  which,  if 
Jarrad  had  been  nearer,  would  have  struck  him  about 
the  heart.  But  luckily  at  this  time,  Buffaloe  was  so 
far  ahead  that  he  was  beyond  his  intended  victim,  and 
stretching  backward  to  give  effect  to  his  stroke,  he 
reached  too  far,  and,  losing  his  balance,  fell  at  full 
length.  Whilst  he  was  recovering  from  the  shock, 
Jarrad  managed  to  escape.  Buffaloe  then  went  up  to 
the  camp.  The  Indians  kept  up  their  frolic  till  noon, 
by  which  time  all  of  them  had  become  dead  drunk,  and 
their  noise  ceased.  The  next  morning  the  Delawares 
went  off  at  an  early  hour,  and  Buffaloe  came  down  to 
the  house  perfectly  sober,  and  ashamed  of  himself. 

Saunders,  who  was  friendly  to  the  prisoners,  thought 
it  imprudent  for  them  to  go  further  with  the  old  chief, 
for  fear  of  some  other  occurrence  of  a  similar  nature. 
He  therefore  proposed  to  take  the  young  squaw  and  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  95 

prisoners  to  Detroit  in  a  canoe,  leaving  Buffaloe  to  go 
by  land  with  a  horse-load  of  skins.  This  was  acceded 
to  by  the  old  warrior,  who  there  parted  with  them,  and 
whom  they  never  met  again.  Saunders  had  one  man 
with  him,  an  Indian  boy,  the  squaw,  and  the  prisoners, 
with  some  goods.  When  they  got  to  Lake  Erie,  Hop- 
kins and  Parkerson  proposed  to  rise  upon  them,  and 
after  taking  the  canoe,  to  attempt  to  make  the  best  of 
their  way  to  Fort  Pitt.  Fitch  remonstrated  against 
such  ingratitude,  as  Saunders  had  been  their  friend 
when  they  were  menaced  by  the  frenzied  Indians. 
The  scheme  was  abandoned,  but  the  proposers  were 
thereby  strengthened  in  their  dislike  to  their  com- 
panion. The  little  bark  coasted  the  shores  of  the  lake. 
At  a  place  called  Stony  Point,  they  saw  a  great  num- 
ber of  sturgeon.  Six  of  these  they  struck  with  their 
tomahawks,  and  took  them  on  board  the  canoe.  When 
they  got  into  the  Detroit  river,  they  took  out  the 
spawns  and  boiled  them  in  fresh  water.  This  mess 
afforded  them  the  first  good  meal  they  had  obtained 
for  thirty  days.  They  had  no  bread,  but  they  got 
along  very  well  without  it.  They  ate  for  nearly  an 
hour,  after  which  they  desisted  for  a  while,  but  again 
ate  by  turns  during  the  whole  afternoon.  The  next 
day,  they  arrived  at  Detroit. 


96  LIFEOFJOHNFITCH. 

i 

CHAPTER    VII. 

THE   PRISONER   OF  WAR   IN   CANADA. 

AT  the  gate  of  the  Fort,  Saunders  gave  up  the  pri- 
soners to  a  sentry,  and  they  saw  no  more  of  him. 
They  were  conducted  to  the  commandant,  Major  Du- 
posters,  who  enquired  the  news.  They  told  him  of  the 
capture  of  Cornwallis.  Although  this  event  happened 
on  the  19th  of  October,  1781,  more  than  six  months 
before  the  prisoners  reached  Detroit,  knowledge  of  that 
important  event  had  not  reached  the  post,  so  distant 
was  it  from  the  centre  of  intelligence,  and  cut  off  from 
communication  with  the  eastern  part  of  the  continent. 
The  major  received  the  story  of  the  prisoners  with 
much  doubt,  and  took  measures  to  prevent  their  state- 
ment from  getting  abroad.  After  having  been  taken 
to  the  Commissary  and  Provost,  they  were  ordered  to 
be  closely  confined,  and  directions  were  given  that  no 
one  should  have  access  to  them.  They  soon  suspected 
the  reason  why  they  were  treated  with  such  severity, 
and  in  order  to  obviate  the  necessity  for  rigor,  they 
took  every  opportunity  to  spread  the  news.  The  sen- 
tinels were  changed  at  stated  periods,  and  every  fresh 
guard  was  informed  of  the  important  event.  The  pri- 
soners also  stationed  themselves  at  the  windows  of  the 
prison,  and  cried  out  to  the  people  in  the  streets,  that 
Cornwallis  and  all  his  army  were  taken.  By  this  means 
the  intelligence  was  soon  spread  over  the  town. 

When  Fitch  was  captured  on  the  Ohio,  he  had  with 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  97 

him  a  graver.  With  that  instrument  he  pleased  his 
Indian  captors  by  marking  fancy  devices  on  their  pow- 
der-horns. When  he  reached  Detroit  he  had  it  with 
him,  and  now  gratified  his  guards  by  similar  work.  He 
was  so  industrious  that  during  two  weeks  while  at  that 
station,  he  earned  eight  dollars,  with  which  he  bought 
himself  a  supply  of  sugar,  tea,  cheese,  butter,  and  other 
stores  for  his  use  during  the  voyage  which  he  expected 
shortly  to  take  over  Lake  Erie.  About  two  weeks 
after  the  arrival  at  Detroit,  the  prisoners  were  sent  off 
in  an  armed  brig  commanded  by  Capt.  Burnett,  a  good 
and  humane  man.  Afterx  a  tedious  voyage  over  the 
Lake,  during  which  they  encountered  a  severe  storm, 
they  reached  Fort  Erie,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Niagara 
river,  in  two  weeks'  time.  They  were  immediately 
despatched  thence  to  Fort  Schlosser,  and  arrived  at 
Niagara  that  evening,  where  they  remained  about  a 
day  and  a  half.  They  were  then  placed  on  board  the 
ship  Linebye,  to  cross  Lake  Ontario.  This  voyage  was 
very  uncomfortable.  The  prisoners,  together  with  a 
horse  and  cow,  were  placed  in  the  hold,  and  two  per- 
sons only  were  permitted  to  be  on  deck  at  the  same 
time.  This  uncomfortable  situation  was  luckily  of 
short  continuance.  The  day  after  their  departure  they 
arrived  at  a  fort  situate  on  Carleton  Island,  at  the  en- 
trance of  the  St.  Lawrence  river.  They  were  confined 
there  for  twenty-four  hours  in  a  small  room  without 
fire  or  light,  and  compelled  to  eat  their  food  raw.  Es- 
corted thence  to  Fort  Oswagatchie  by  a  party  of  sol- 
diers, who  were  ordered  to  blow  their  brains  out  in  case 
of  misbehavior,  they  gladly  heard  at  the  latter  place 
that  they  were  to  have  new  guards,  under  whose  guid- 
9 


98  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ance  they  were  marched  to  Coteau  du  Lac,  their  place 
of  destination.  Here  they  were  mustered,  and  their 
names,  birth-places,  and  occupations  noted,  under  the 
direction  of  Capt.  Anderson,  the  superintendent.  To 
an  island  opposite  Coteau  du  Lac,  then  named  Prison 
Island,  Fitch  and  twenty  others  were  finally  conveyed, 
on  the  25th  of  May,  1782.  This  place  was  the  depot 
for  prisoners  taken  by  the  British  in  the  north  and 
north-west.  An  area  of  seventy  or  eighty  acres  gave 
ample  room  for  exercise,  and  the  island  being  situate 
amidst  a  dangerous  rapid,  was  deemed  sufficiently  pro- 
tected for  the  purpose  of  confinement.  There  were  a 
large  number  of  prisoners  there,  who  were  idle,  dis- 
contented, ready  for  any  kind  of  mischief,  and 'disposed 
to  think  unfavorably  of  any  of  their  companions  who 
manifested  different  opinions.  Fitch  was  of  an  active, 
industrious  temperament,  and  he  could  not  bear  the 
listless  way  of  life  to  which  he  was  now  introduced. 
He  accordingly  com'menced  preparations  to  plant  and 
cultivate  a  spot  of  ground.  One  James  McKollock 
aided  him,  and  they  cleared  a  space  of  twenty  pole, 
which  they  planted  with  corn,  squashes,  peas,  cucum- 
bers, and  other  things,  the  seeds  of  which  were  given 
them  by  the  British.  This  project  was  very  unpopular 
with  the  other  prisoners,  and  a  rer/ort  was  spread  about 
that  the  intention  of  the  laborers  was  to  give  the  Bri- 
tish a  hint,  and  suggest  to  them  a  species  of  work  to 
which  they  might  all  be  put,  for  the  benefit  of  their 
jailors.  This  was  very  unjust,  and  it  could  have  had 
its  foundation  only  in  the  fears  of  those  whose  laziness 
caused  them  to  dislike  the  prospect  of  any  kind  of  em- 
ployment. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  99 

The  prisoners  were  very  carefully  provided  -with  ra- 
tions, and  Fitch  and  McKollock,  who  were  "not  great 
caters,"  generally  saved  about  eight  pounds  of  pork 
every  two  weeks  out  of  their  supplies.  With  this  they 
obtained,  by  exchange,  tea,  butter,  cheese,  and  other 
luxuries,  and  with  the  first  produce  of  this  economy 
Fitch  procured  a  fur  cap,  which  was  the  first  covering 
which  he  had  for  his  head  since  his  capture.  He  now 
turned  his  thoughts  to  the  necessity,  and,  in  fact,  the 
comfort  of  labor  in  the  way  of  his  usual  business,  and 
he  gives  the  following  interesting  account  of  the  expe- 
dients to  which  he  resorted : 

As  soon  as  I  had  got  my  seeds  in  the  ground,  I  began  to  think 
of  carrying  on  my  trade,  for  I  could  not  endure  the  Thought  of 
being  Idle ;  and  all  the  tools  I  had  was  my  old  Graver,  and  no 
steel  on  the  island  to  make  any  with.  And  all  the  tools  I  could 
find  on  the  Island  was  an  ax,  a  handsaw,  a  Chissel,  and  Iron 
Wedge  fr  splitting  wood,  and  a  shoemakers  hammer,  also  a  fore 
plain.  My  first  thought  was  to  make  a  Vice,  but  before  I  could 
make  that,  I  must  have  a  turning  lath,  to  turn  the  screw ;  with 
the  saw,  ax,  Chissel,  and  foreplain,  I  got  it  compleated.  I  ought 
also  to  have  mentioned,  that  there  was  an  augure  and  grindstone 
on  the  Island.  I  got  a  peace  of  ramrod  of  a  gun,  and  made  the 
Centures  for  my  Popets ;  I  also  got  a  large  blade  of  a  jack  knife, 
and  broke  it  in  two,  one  part  of  which  I  made  a  Chissel,  the  other 
a  Gouge  for  turneing.  The  Iron  wedge  I  fixed  in  a  Block,  and 
made  my  anvil.  The  shoemaker's  hammer  I  forged  with,  and 
our  common  fire,  blowed  by  my  mouth  or  hat,  I  forged  by.  I 
made  a  punch  out  of  an  Iron  hoop,  and  punched  two  holes  thro' 
fach  Broken  Blade,  and  then  took  an  Iron  Hoop  and  punched 
two  holes  at  each  end  uniform  with  the  first,  and  bent  the  Hoops, 
&  Hiveted  the  Broken  Blade  between  the  ends  of  the  hoop,  and 
after  the  Chissel  and  Gouge  was  made  and  hardned,  filled  the, 
hoop  with  wood,  which  made  a  very  good  handle.  Thus  I  got 
my  lath  completed,  and  turned  an  augure  for  cutting  the  Box  of 
the  Vice,  and  at  the  same  time  turned  a  peace  for  the  screw.  I 


100  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

then  got  the  Jaws  of  my  Vice,  and  cut  a  peace  of  Paper  of  an 
equal  weadth,  and  paisted  on  to  the  peace  designed  for  my  au- 
ger, and  laid  out  my  screw,  which  I  sawed  round  conformable, 
and  in  the  proper  place  fixed  a  peace  of  iron  made  out  of  a  hoop, 
to  cut  the  screw,  but  was  first  to  make  a  file  to  point  it  properly. 
I  had  the  Back  spring  of  said  Knife,  and  by  axcedent  got  an 
old  razor  Blade,  of  which  I  made  Chissels,  and  forged  and  cut 
a  file  out  of  the  spring,  which  enabled  me  to  complete  my  vice. 
After  it  was  done  I  put  jaws  to  it  with  Iron  hoops  nearly  as  nice 
as  could  be  done  in  the  City  of  Philad.,  that  for  some  time  would 
punch  almost  any  thing  that  come  between  them. 

Some  of  the  British  soldiers  obtained  for  him  a  flat 
and  saw  file  at  Coteau  du  Lac.  Of  the  flat  file  he  made 
a  "wire  plate."  A  thin  iron  hoop  was  turned  into  a 
blow-pipe,  the  edges  being  hammered  close,  and  being 
free  from  leaks.  A  "sliding-tongs"  to  hold  buttons 
was  made  out  of  an  iron  hoop.  In  ten  days  he  had  a 
"fine  set  of  tools,"  and  was  ready  to  commence  work. 
He  bought  an  old  worn-out  brass  kettle  from  a  soldier. 
The  bottom  only  was  fit  to  make  buttons  of.  The  sides 
were  cut  into  strips,  which  were  afterward  worked  into 
brass  wire  for  the  shanks  of  the  buttons.  He  was  now 
ready  to  manufacture,  but  was  sadly  impeded  by  the 
want  of  borax,  with  which  to  prepare  his  solder.  None 
was  to  be  had  nearer  than  Montreal,  and  opportunity 
of  sending  there  and  obtaining  a  return  of  the  article 
wanted,  was  not  easily  to  be  had  by  one  in  his  condi- 
tion. A  soldier  who  was  going  down  was  induced  to 
undertake  the  errand,  and  to  endeavor  to  obtain  the 
article  for  him.  Whilst  he  was  gone,  Fitch  bleached 
ashes  and  boiled  it  down,  calcined  the  residuum  as  well 
as  he  could,  and  made  an  inferior  kind  of  pearlash, 
which  he  intended  to  use  instead  of  borax.  He  had 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  101 

great  difficulty  to  make  the  solder  adhesive  with  this 
substitute,  but  he  persevered  in  his  task.  Thirty  or 
forty  pairs  of  buttons  were  made  before  the  soldier  re- 
turned with  the  borax.  These  had  all  met  with  a  good 
sale,  and  upon  some  he  had  cut  cyphers  with  his  graver, 
and  he  declared  that  they  looked  "but  little  inferior 
to  gold."  One  John  Segar,  of  Massachusetts,  an  in- 
genious, handy  man,  desired  to  work  with  him,  and  he 
gave  him  wages.  Whilst  embarrassed  for  the  want  of 
borax,  they  procured  enough  timber  to  make  twelve 
wooden  clocks,  boiled  it,  and  took  every  means  to  sea- 
son it  quickly.  Some  of  the  prisoners  were  hired  to 
bring  all  the  wood  they  could  find  to  the  barrack-yard, 
and  were  paid  oif  in  buttons.  A  German  coal-burner, 
who  was  among  the  prisoners,  was  induced  to  turn  the 
wood  into  charcoal ;  and  Fitch  had  as  much  as  eighty 
bushels  of  this  fuel  stored  away  in  the  loft  of  the  bar- 
racks at  one  time.  He  also  erected  a  furnace  for 
melting  silver ;  made  moulds  and  crucibles  out  of  sheet 
iron,  and  could  make  silver  buttons  as  well  as  brass 
ones.  His  business  was  now  increasing,  and  John 
Reynolds,  of  Vermont,  was  taken  as  an  apprentice,  and 
towards  the  latter  end  of  the  time,  one  Clark,  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  admitted  into  the  company.  During  the  five 
months  that  this  party  was  upon  Prison  Island,  they 
made  nine  wooden  clocks,  which  they  sold  at  four  dol- 
lars each;  three  hundred  pair  of  brass  sleeve-buttons, 
and  eighty  pair  of  silver  buttons.  Tools  were  also 
made  to  repair  watches,  and  three  or  four  of  those  ar- 
ticles were  put  in  order  by  Fitch  whilst  in  captivity. 
With  the  proceeds  of  his  industry,  he  obtained  a  super- 
fine suit  of  clothing,  plenty  of  coarse  working  clothes, 
9* 


102  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  a  good  hammock  of  Russia  sheeting,  which  he 
swung  midway  in  the  barrack,  to  escape  the  vermin 
which  the  dirty  habits  of  his  fellow-prisoners  had  in- 
troduced. He  had  also  five  blankets,  and  two  or  three 
cords  of  wood,  laid  up  for  winter.  He  had  also,  dur- 
ing the  whole  time,  aided  the  sick  among  the  prisoners 
with  such  comforts  as  he  could  procure  for  them, 
spending  on  an  average  a  dollar  a  week  in  that  way — 
a  very  considerable  sum,  taking  into  view  the  means  of 
sale  which  he  had,  and  the  low  prices  which  he  was  com- 
pelled to  charge.  Beside  this,  his  garden  furnished 
his  fellow-prisoners  with  vegetables  and  provisions  of 
other  kinds,  which  to  the  sick  were  glad  substitutes  for 
the  unvarying  round  of  pork  and  other  coarse  rations. 
The  British  officers,  oppressed  with  the  monotony  of  a 
garrison  life,  were  glad  to  have  any  method  of  passing 
away  the  time,  and  they  made  his  workshop  their  re- 
sort, where  they  would  sit  for  hours,  watching  the  pro- 
cesses of  manufacture,  and  conversing  with  the  indus- 
trious prisoners.  By  this  means  he  made  friends 
among  them,  and  received  many  little  indulgences 
at  their  hands  which  his  companions  could  not  obtain. 
These  manifestations  caused  considerable  envy  among 
the  latter,  and  Parkerson  and  Hopkins  took  occasion  to 
inflame  their  dislike  by  innuendoes  and  unfriendly 
speeches,  which  caused  the  manifestation  of  frequent 
insults  towards  him.  Having  borne  this  usage  for  some 
time,  he  bethought  himself  of  a  means  of  protection, 
by  appealing  to  the  New  England  men,  as  a  New  Eng- 
land man,  and  representing  the  affronts  as  being  offered 
because  he  was  a  Yankee.  This  policy  had  its  effect ; 
the  natives  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  and  other 
eastern  States,  rallied  to  his  support.  In  a  short  time 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  103 

Fitch  had  a  party  of  defenders  as  strong  as  his  oppo- 
nents, which  fact  kept  the  latter  in  check,  and  caused 
them  to  cease  their  annoyance. 

Although  it  was  supposed  that  Prison  Island  was 
guarded  by  the  dangerous  rapids  in  the  river  surround- 
ing it,  those  natural  obstacles  did  not  prevent  some  of 
the  captives  from  making  their  escape.  They  would 
construct  rafts  at  the  upper  end  of  the  territory,  and 
dare  the  perilous  navigation.  Some  got  off,  some  were 
drowned,  and  some  were  brought  back  in  irons.  These 
occurrences  became  so  common,  that  the  barracks  were 
picketed  in  ;  but  this  precaution  did  not  suffice.  Dur- 
ing midsummer,  thirty  escaped  in  one  night.  Ten  or 
fifteen  more  were  caught  attempting  to  get  away,  and 
being  brought  back,  were  confined  in  an  inside  picket. 
Some  of  the  prisoners  in  the  next  barrack  to  Fitch, 
began  to  burrow  towards  the  place  of  the  confinement 
of  their  associates.  They  had  proceeded  about  ten 
feet  beyond  the  walty  and  under  the  soil  of  the  parade 
square,  when  a  heavy  rain  caused  the  pickets  to  sink 
through  the  burrow,  so  that  all  their  labor  was  in  vain, 
and  further  progress  Avas  impeded.  In  this  dilemma 
some  of  them  consulted  Fitch  (who  was  looked  upon  as 
an  ingenious  man)  as  to  what  could  be  done.  He  told 
them  that  he  was  going  to  work  in  the  garden  that  day, 
suggested  that  there  was  plenty  of  old  iron  hoops  on 
the  island,  and  that  with  a  file  some  of  them  might  be 
easily  notched  into  saws.  They  took  the  hint,  and 
acted  accordingly.  That  night  forty  or  fifty  got  out- 
side of  the  pickets,  and  between  twenty  and  thirty 
escaped  from  the  island. 

Capt.  Anderson  had  been  succeeded  in  the  command 
at  this  post  by  Capt.  Carleton,  a  humane  and  kind  man. 


104  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  EXCHANGE  —  THE  SEA  VOYAGE. 

IN  the  beginning  of  October,  intelligence  was  received 
that  the  prisoners  had  been  exchanged,  and  orders 
were  given  for  their  immediate  departure.  The  an- 
nouncement was  made  in  the  evening  at  roll  call,  and 
they  were  directed  to  be  ready  to  go  off  the  next  day. 
Fitch,  who  had  .become  a  man  of  business,  and  of  for- 
tune, was  embarrassed  by  the  order,  and  he  besought 
more  time.  The  British  officers  made  merry  at  this, 
saying,  that  he  was  "  as  rich  as  Robinson  Crusoe,  and 
unwilling  to  quit  his  wealth  on  the  desert  island."  He 
also  requested  permission  to  go  with  the  Vermont 
people  by  way  of  Crown  Point,  but  this  favor  was 
denied,  and  he  was  ordered  to  go  to  an  Atlantic  port. 
He  therefore  made  'a  summary  disposition  of  his  effects. 
His  tools  he  packed  in  a  cedar  case,  which  he  took 
away  with  him.  He  had  plenty  of  clothing,  and 
money  to  buy  little  luxuries  to  serve  on  the  voyage, 
besides  having  a  sum  in  his  pocket. 

The  prisoners  were  taken  from  Coteau  du  Lac  to 
Montreal.  Here  Fitch  tried  to  induce  some  of  his 
companions  to  desert,  and  attempt  to  reach  the  states 
by  land,  but  he  could  get  none  to  undertake  so  wild  a 
journey.  They  continued  down  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
Quebec,  where  he  and  others  were  put  on  board  the 
ship  John,  bound  to  Boston.  For  some  unaccountable 
reason  the  vessel  did  not  sail,  but  remained  before 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  105 

Quebec  for  more  than  a  month,  during  which  time 
there  were  heavy  snows  and  rains,  and  the  weather 
was  very  cold.  All  the  prisoners  suffered  much,  the 
only  fire  on  board  being  in  the*  caboose.  Whilst  the 
John  was  thus  moored,  another  ship,  the  Baker  and 
Atly,  was  put  under  a  cartel  commission,  and  ordered 
to  sail  to  Philadelphia.  On  board  of  that  vessel,  Fitch 
and  seventy  others  were  placed,  much  to  his  dissatis- 
faction, as  he  wanted  to  go  to  Boston.  He  remonstrated 
against  the  change,  but  in  vain,  and  incurred  the  dis- 
pleasure of  Colonel  Campbell,  an  American  officer,  who 
had  been  a  prisoner ;  but  now,  in  consequence  of  his 
rank,  was  placed  in  command  of  his  countrymen. 
Captain  Tung,  a  king's  officer,  was  put  in  commission 
as  commander  of  the  Baker  and  Atly.  On  the  25th 
of  November  they  left  Quebec,  during  a  violent  storm 
which  lasted  until  they  had  passed  Cape  Breton,  and 
was  so  severe  that  they  had  no  opportunity  of  putting 
the  pilot  on  shore.  In  this  tempest  the  magnificent 
ship  of  the  line  Ville  de  Paris,  and  other  fine  vessels 
were  cast  away.1  The  voyage  was  very  unpleasant, 
there  being  continual  storms  and  head-winds.  Fitch 
did  not  get  along  harmoniously  with  his  companions, 
especially  Colonel  Campbell  and  Captain  Tung,  with 
whom  he  quarrelled.  On  one  occasion  it  was  feared 
that  the  ship  would  go  on  shore,  and  our  voyager  pre- 
pared himself  in  a  singular  way  for  the  expected 

1  The  first-rate  ship  of  the  line,  Ville  de  Paris,  carrying 
104  guns,  had  belonged  to  the  French  fleet  under  Count  de 
Grasse,  but  was  captured  in  the  famous  sea-fight  in  which  Ad- 
miral Rodney  was  victorious.  Under  the  English  flag  and  under 
the  command  of  Captain  A.  Wilkinson,  the  Ville  de  Paris  left 
Jamaica  in  November,  1782,  and  was  never  heard  of  afterward 


106  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

catastrophe.  Having  dressed  himself  in  costume 
which  he  thought  suitable  for  the  struggle,  he  put  a 
biscuit  in  one  pocket,  and  a  shoemaker's  nippers  in  the 
other.  With  that  instrument  he  thought  that  if  cast 
ashore  he  could  catch  at  the  sand,  sea  plants,  or  -what- 
ever object  would  offer  a  purchase,  and  thus  prevent 
his  being  worked  off  by  a  receding  wave.  The  idea 
was  not  a  bad  one,  but  the  wind  suddenly  changing 
and  blowing  off  shore  as  hard  as  it  had  blown  toward 
it,  these  preparations  were  useless.  They  were  noticed, 
however,  and  the  next  day  Captain  Tung  ridiculed  the 
prudent  passenger  in  the  presence  of  all  who  were  on 
board,  an  affront  which  exasperated  Fitch's  sensitive 
nature  to  great  resentment.  The  succeeding  day  they 
were  near  the  capes  of  Delaware.  The  sky  was  clear 
and  a  gentle  breeze  filled  the  sails.  Whilst  all  were 
enjoying  the  contrast  between  the  present  pleasure, 
and  past  discomforts,  the  sound  of  cannon  was  heard  at 
a  distance  on' the  waters.  At  length  a  fine  man-of-war, 
with  every  sail  spread,  was  seen  approaching,  another 
frigate  following  in  chase,  whilst  another  was  half  a 
mile  to  windward,  and  another  three,  miles  in  the  rear. 
As  the  leading  ship  came  up,  without  colors  flying,  the 
pursuer  fired  at  her.  The  Baker  and  Atly  was  directly 
between  these  combatants,  and  Captain  Tung  was 
scared  at  his  perilous  situation,  not  knowing  the  relative 
nationalities  of  the  combatants.  He  thought  it  most 
prudent  to  hoist  the  British  flag,  and  was  preparing  to 
display  it,-  when  the  nearest  ship,  which  was  but  a 
pistol-shot  distant,  run  up  the  stripes  and  stars  of  the 
United  States.  Captain  Tung  at  once  saw  his  danger, 
and  preferred  to  remain  between  the  combatants  rather 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  107 

than  peril  himself  by  what  would  seem  to  have  been  a 
defiance  of  a  foe  which  could  have  sunk  his  ship  with 
one  broadside.  The  American  frigate  (it  was  the 
South  Carolina)  had  no  time  to  challenge  or  examine 
the  humble  merchantman,  and  the  three  British  frigates 
continued  the  chase.  When  he  was  out  of  danger 
Captain  Tung  held  up  to  witness  the  battle.  The 
South  Carolina  fired  ten  or  twelve  guns  during  the 
afternoon,  but  towards  night  the  Americans  on  board 
the  Baker  and  Atly  had  the  misfortune  to  see  the 
American  flag  hauled  down,  after  (as  Fitch  thought) 
a  badly  managed  fight.1 

1  The  South  Carolina  was  manned  by  the  State  of  that  name. 
Other  vessels  had  previously  been  sent  out  by  the  same  authority. 
Concerning  the  history  of  its  marine,  and  particularly  in  regard 
to  the  loss  of  the  frigate  South  Carolina,  Cooper  gives  the  follow- 
ing particulars : 

"  Commodore  Gillon,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  little  marine, 
•went  to  Europe,  and  large  amounts  of  Colonial  produce  were 
remitted  to  him  in  order  to  raise  the  necessary  funds.  In  his 
correspondence,  this  officer  complains  of  the  difficulty  of  pro- 
curing the  right  sort  of  ships,  and  much  time  was  lost  in  fruit- 
less negotiations  for  that  purpose,  in  both  France  and  Holland. 
At  length  an  arrangement  was  entered  into  for  one  vessel,  that 
is  so  singular  as  to  require  particular  notice.  This  vessel  was 
the  Indien,  which  had  been  laid  down  by  the  American  com- 
missioners at  Amsterdam,  and  subsequently  presented  to  France. 
She  had  the  dimensions  of  a  small  74,  but  was  a  frigate  in  con- 
struction, carrying,  however,  an  armament  that  consisted  of  28 
Swedish  thirty-sixes  on  her  gun-deck,  and  of  12  Swedish  twelves 
on  her  quarter-deck  and  forecastle,  or  40  guns  in  the  whole. 
This  ship,  though  strictly  the  property  of  France,  had  been  lent 
by  Louis  XVI.  to  the  Duke  of  Luxembourgh,  who  hired  her  to 
.  the  State  of  South  Carolina  for  three  years,  on  condition  that 
the  State  would  insure  her,  sail  her  at  its  own  expense,  and 


108  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

The  Baker  and  Atly  now  met  -with  the  British  fleet, 
and,  instead  of  continuing  the  voyage  to  Philadelphia, 
was  ordered  to  steer  for  New  York,  in  company  with 
the  three  British  frigates  and  the  South  Carolina. 

render  to  her  owner  one-fourth  of  the  proceeds  of  her  prizes. 
Under  this  singular  compact  the  ship,  which  was  named  the 
South  Carolina  for  the  occasion,  got  out  in  1781,  and  made  a 
successful  cruise  in  the  narrow  seas,  sending  her  prizes  into 
Spain.  Afterwards  she  proceeded  to  America,  capturing  ten 
sail,  with  which  she  went  into  Havana.  Here  Commodore 
Gillon,  with  a  view  to  distress  the  enemy,  accepted  the  command 
of  the  nautical  part  of  an  expedition  against  the  Bahamas,  that 
had  been  set  on  foot  by  the  Spaniards,  and  in  which  other 
American  cruisers  joined.  The  expedition  was  successful,  and 
the  ship  proceeded  to  Philadelphia.  Commodore  Gillon  now  left 
her,  and,  after  some  delay,  the  South  Carolina  went  to  sea  in 
December,  1782,  under  the  orders  of  Captain  Joyner,  an  officer 
who  had  previously  served  on  board  the  vessel  as  the  second  in 
command.  It  is  probable  that  the  movements  of  so  important 
a  vessel  were  watched,  for  she  bad  scarcely  cleared  the  capes, 
when,  after  a  short  running  fight,  she  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
British  ship  Diomede,  44,  having  the  Astrea,  32,  and  the  Quebec, 
32,  in  company. 

"The  South  Carolina  was  much  the  heaviest  ship  that  ever 
sailed  under  the  American  flag,  until  the  new  frigates  were  con- 
structed during  the  war  of  1812,  and  she  is  described  as  being 
a  particularly  fast  vessel,  but  her  service  appears  to  have  been 
greatly  disproportioned  to  her  means.  She  cost  the  State  a  large 
sum  of  money,  and  is  believed  to  have  returned  literally  nothing 
to  its  treasury.  Her  loss  excited  much  comment."  —  Cooper's 
Naval  History,  Vol.  I.,  page  212. 

Bivington's  Royal  Gazette,  December  25,  1782,  says,  "  The 
Quebec  was  commanded  by  Christopher  Mason,  the  Diomede  by 
Captain  Frederick,  and  the  Astrea  by  Matthew  Squires. — They 
chased  the  South  Carolina  eighteen  hours,  when  she  fired  a 
stern-chaser  at  the  Diomede,  which  was  returned  by  one  of  the ' 
latter's  bow  guns.  The  Diomede  gave  her  six  broadsides,  and 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  109 

During  the  last  part  of  the  voyage  the  prisoners  were 
treated  badly,  being  locked  under  hatches,  and  not 
more  than  two  being  allowed  to  come  upon  deck  at 
once.  This  treatment  would  scarcely  have  been 
submitted  to,  if  the  ship  had  been  without  a  convoy. 
Although  a  rescue  was'spoken  of  among  the  Americans, 
it  was  not  attempted.  On  Christmas,  1782,  forty  days 
after  leaving  Quebec,  the  Baker  and  Atly  arrived  at 
New  York,  the  prisoners  having  been  ten  weeks  on  the 
water  from  the  time  they  left  Prison  island.  When  the 
ship  cast  anchor,  Fitch  wrote  to  William  White,  brass- 
founder,  and  Richard  Laws,  cutler,  two  persons  whom 
he  knew,  to  come  and  see  him  and  bring  him  what 
articles  he  wanted.  Although  they  had  formerly  been 
great  friends  of  his,  they  paid  no  attention  to  him,  but 
told  the  commissary  to  attend  to  him.  He  concluded 
that  they  were  afraid  that  he  would  ask  them  for 
charity,  and  that  they  thought  it  would  be  economical 
for  them  to  stay  away.  This  gave  him  disgust — White 
and  Laws  were  leading  Methodists,  to  which  sect  Fitch 
then  belonged,  and  the  affair,  with  others  which  have 
been  related,  no  doubt  had  an  effect  upon  his  mind, 
and  unsettled  religious  opinions  which  never  were  very 
firm.  The  prisoners  were  sent  up  the  river  to  Dobbs' 

she  received  one  from  the  Quebec,  through  a  running  fight  of 
two  hours,  when  her  colors  were  struck  to  this  superior  force. 
She  was  taken  the  day  after  she  sailed.  She  lost  six  killed  and 
wounded,  but  the  British  not  a  man. 

"  Fifty  German,  and  eight  British  soldiers  of  General  Bur- 
goyne's  army,  taken  out  of  the  jail  at  Philadelphia,  and  com- 
pelled on  board  the  Carolina  (rather  than  submit  to  be  sold  by 
the  rebels),  were,  on  this  occasion,  happily  released  from  a 
service  ever  obnoxious  to  their  principles." 

10 


110  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ferry,  where  a  parole  was  asked  of  them.  Fitch  re- 
fused to  give  one,  without  a  copy,  so  that  he  might 
know  its  terms.  This  act  of  justice  was  denied  him, 
and  he  was  finally  discharged  without  it.  Meeting  one 
John  Burnett  who  had  been  a  fellow-prisoner,  ho 
travelled  with  him  to  Warminster,  in  Bucks  County, 
where  they  arrived  on  a  Saturday  night. 

"He  went  directly,"  says  Longstreth,  "to  the  log- 
shop  where  he  met  with  his  bosom  friend  Cobe  Scout, 
as  related  to  me  by  an  eye-witness,  Jonathan  Delany. 
*  It  was,'  said  he,  '  a  rainy  Saturday  that  Fitch  opened 
the  shop  door,  and  he  and  Cobe  rushed  into  each  other's 
arms,  and  gave  vent  to  their  emotions  in  a  flood  of 
tears.' "  l  The  next  day  Burnett,  who  was  a  Baptist, 
attended  meeting,  where  thanks  were  publicly  returned 
to  God  for  his  deliverance  from  captivity.  The  an- 
nouncement drew  forth  the  sympathies  of  the  simple 
congregation,  and  a  collection  was  taken  up  to  assist 
him  in  his  need.  With  twelve  dollars  in  his  pocket, 
the  proceeds  of  this  contribution,  and  with  a  sum 
borrowed  from  Fitch,  Burnett  went  on  towards  Ken- 
tucky. 

1  "John  Fitch,  of  steamboat  memory,"  by  Daniel  Longstreth, 
Bucks  County  Intelligencer. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  Ill 

CHAPTER    IX. 

ADVENTURES  IN  KENTUCKY  AND  OHIO. 

AFTER  his  return  from  captivity,  Fitch  remained 
some  time  in  Bucks  County,  without  any  particular  em- 
ployment. He  had  not  relinquished  his  belief  that 
vast  riches  might  be  made  by  the  selection  and  pur- 
chase of  lands  in  the  western  country.  After  the 
treaty  of  peace  with  England,  the  question,  How  the 
lands  north-west  of  the  River  Ohio  should  be  disposed 
of,  was  mooted  in  Congress.  It  was  thought  that  they 
would  be  sold,  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  Confederacy. 
Fitch  was  now  a  land-jobber,  and  supposing  that  a  good 
operation  might  be  made  by  a  pre-survey  of  the  coun- 
try, so  that  when  Land  Offices  were  opened  warrants 
might  be  taken  out  immediately  for  choice  tracts,  he 
disclosed  his  thoughts  to  some  of  his  friends.  He  found 
no  difficulty  in  forming  a  company  to  forward  such  an 
enterprise.  It  was  composed  of  Dr.  John  Ewing,  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Irwin,  Wm.  C.  Houston,  Jonathan  Dickin- 
son Sergeant,  Stacy  Potts,  of  Trenton,  and  Colonel 
Joshua  Anderson,  of  Bucks  County.  These  gentlemen 
put  ,£20  each  in  a  fund  to  pay  expenses.  Fitch  was 
to  have  an  equal  share  in  the  titles,  and  the  money 
raised  was  to  pay  the  expenses  of  subsistence,  etc.,  for 
the  surveying  party.  Col.  Anderson  went  along,  and 
he  took  with  him  some  of  his  friends  who  were  unac- 
customed to  rough  work,  and  who  really  were  obstacles 
to  the  success  of  the  expedition.  Although  they 


112  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

should  have  commenced  their  labors  at  early  dawn,  it 
\vas  generally  eight  or  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  be- 
fore they  could  be  got  to  business,  and  they  were  soon 
tired  out,  so  that  the  progress  of  the  company  was  but 
slow.  Fitch  kept  the  minutes,  made  draughts,  and  at 
night  corrected  each  day's  work ;  but  much  time  was 
lost  in  consequence  of  the  laziness  of  members  of  the 
party. 

They  began  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hockhocking,  on 
the  north-western  side  of  the  Ohio,  and  surveyed  up 
to  Wheeling  Island,  a  distance  then  computed  by  Fitch 
to  be  between  eighty  and  ninety  miles.  They  selected 
the  most  valuable  tracts  in  that  range,  and  surveyed 
about  thirty-six  thousand  acres.  They  returned  to 
Decker's  Fort,  from  which  point  they  had  started,  with 
an  intention  of  going  into  the  woods.  But  here  an 
obstacle  arose  from  the  indisposition  of  the  majority 
of  the  party  to  proceed  further.  They  were  afraid  of 
hostile  Indians.  It  had  been  resolved  that  they  should 
survey  one  hundred  thousand  acres,  and  but  little  more 
than  one-third  of  the  task  had  been  executed.  Con- 
tention ensued,  and  Fitch  determined  to  get  frontier 
men  accustomed  to  the  country,  whilst  Col.  Anderson 
and  his  friends,  who  had  seen  enough  of  life  in  the 
woods,  were  preparing  to  return  to  Bucks  County. 
With  the  hands  thus  obtained,  Fitch  set  out  westward, 
and  all  who  were  with  him  worked  so  energetically, 
that  they  surveyed  forty-eight  thousand  acres  in  two 
weeks.  Anderson  and  his  party  set  off  homeward  two 
days  before  their  return  to  Decker's  Fort.  The  frost 
•was  now  setting  in,  and  nothing  more  could  be  done. 
Fitch  remained  at  the  mouth  of  Ilockhockiug,  one  day, 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  113 

to  settle  up  his  affairs,  when  he  also  took  the  road  to 
Pennsylvania  on  foot.  At  Wright's  Ferry,  he  over- 
took Colonel  Anderson  and  his  party.  Leaving  them 
there,  he  travelled  on,  and  got  to  Bucks  County  a  day 
before  them. 

Arrived  at  home,  his  thoughts  turned  once  more  to 
his  children,  and  in  December,  1781,  he  addressed  a 
letter  to  his  son,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

"  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  endeavor  to  raise  an  irreverent 
thought  in  your  heart  against  your  mother.  But  our  separation, 
you  may  be  assured,  was  no  trifling  matter  to  me.  There  was 
nothing  that  I  more  ardently  wished  for,  at  the  time,  than  that 
Heaven  would  call  me  to  the  world  of  spirits.  You,  my  child, 
staggered  every  resolution,  and  weighed  more  to  me  than  a 
mountain  of  diamonds.  Finally,  I  resolved,  and  re-resolved,  and 
then  resolved  again,  and  gave  you  a  sacrifice  to  the  world  more 
unwillingly  than  the  patriarch  of  old."1 

Whilst  waiting  the  advent  of  spring,  he  became  "& 
brother  of  the  mystic  tie."  He  joined  Bristol  Lodge 
No.  25  A.  Y.  M.,  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the 
4th  of  January,  1785.2  He  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  and  attached  to  the  institution,  as 
appears  by  various  expressions  in  his  journal. 

The  share-holders  were  satisfied  with  the  results  of 
this  trip,  and  with  the  prospects  before  them,  and  they 
prevailed  upon  Fitch  to  take  the  field  early  in  the 
spring  of  1785.  He  accordingly  left  Bucks  County  in 
the  winter,  and  crossed  the  Susquehanna  river  on  the 
ice.  At  Monongahela,  he  met  with  one  John  Sterrett, 

1  Whittlesey's  Life  of  Fitch.      Sparks'  American  Biography, 
page  100. 

2  Historical  Sketches  of  Bristol  Borough,  by  Wm.  Bache, 
page  53. 

10* 


114  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

to  whom  he  made  proposals  to  accompany  him.  Hands 
were  also  hired,  sufficient  in  number  to  carry  two  chains, 
and  the  whole  party,  numbering  thirteen,  went  down 
the  Ohio  in  the  month  of  March,  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Muskingum.  They  surveyed  up  that  river  a  distance 
of  eighty-five  miles,  until  they  came  upon  fresh  Indian 
signs ;  finding  a  large  camp,  which  had  been  but  re- 
cently occupied.  They  thought  it  prudent  to  leave 
that  dangerous  vicinity,  and  taking  to  their  canoes, 
paddled  down  the  Muskingum,  until  they  reached  the 
Ohio,  and  thence  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Hock- 
hocking.  Up  that  stream  they  proceeded  about  forty- 
seven  miles,  surveying  the  best  lands.  They  reached 
a  large  island,  about  one  hundred  acres  in  extent;  the 
stream  on  each  side  was  choked  with  large  logs,  and 
impassable  for  canoes.  Upon  the  land  were  the  marks 
of  fresh  tracks,  and  other  Indian  signs.  Fitch  decided 
that  he  would  return,  but  Sterrett  was  desirous  of  pro- 
ceeding, and  offered  to  go  himself  to  the  head  of  the 
river  Hockhocking,  and  then  cross  the  country  to 
White  Woman's  Creek1  (Walhonding  River),  a  tribu- 
tary which,  joining  the  Tuscarawas  atCoshocton,  forms 
the  Muskingum.  Thence  Sterrett  proposed  to  return 
by  land  to  the  Ohio.  This  was  contrary  to  the  opinion 
and  policy  of  Fitch,  but  he  reluctantly  consented. 
Sterrett  divided  the  party,  and  loading  each  man  with 
twenty  pounds  of  flour,  other  provisions,  and  baggage, 

1  This  name  was  applied  to  it  from  the  circumstance  that  a 
white  woman  named  Harris,  who  in  early  life  was  captured  by 
Indians,  and  became  domiciliated  among  them,  lived  upon  the 
stream.  She  had  been  educated  religiously  when  young,  and  in 
later  life  retained  enough  of  her  early  education  to  lament  the 
wickedness  of  the  white  people  who  came  to  the  West. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  115 

they  parted.  Fitch  and  liis  companions  embarked  in 
their  canoes,  and  proceeded  down  the  river.  Before 
night  they  saw  three  Indians  standing  on  the  hank, 
near  a  great  bend,  which  was  seven  or  eight  miles 
round  by  the  course  of  the  river,  but  which  was  only  a 
mile  and  a  half  across  by  land.  The  darkness  was 
coming  on,  and  the  party  paddled  about  a  mile,  when 
they  ceased,  loaded  their  guns,  and  inspected  them  to 
see  if  they  were  in  good  order.  They  then  proceeded 
cautiously,  and  near  the  end  of  the  bend  they  heard 
the  Indians  walking  on  the  land,  stepping  among  the 
willows,  and  breaking  off  twigs  and  sticks  as  they  went 
along.  Whether  the  savages  were  armed  is  not  known, 
but  they  did  not  fire  upon  the  voyagers  nor  attempt  to 
molest  them.  The  white  men  floated  on  until  the  night 
became  so  very  dark  that  it  was  impossible  to  see  to 
go  further.  They  then  went  on  shore,  but  took  every 
precaution  to  give  no  indication  of  their  situation. 
They  kindled  no  fires,  and  were  very  quiet.  They 
rose  an  hour  before  day,  and  waited  impatiently  until 
the  first  glimmer  of  dawn  enabled  them  to  proceed. 
They  succeeded  in  escaping,  and  in  good  time  reached 
the  Ohio. 

Sterrett  and  his  party  were  not  so  lucky.  They 
had  travelled  not  more  than  eight  or  ten  miles  after 
the  separation  from  Fitch,  when  they  fell  in  with  six 
Indians.  The  "hunter"  and  one  of  the  hands  were 
separated  from  them  and  escaped  the  danger,  but  the 
rest  were  made  prisoners.  They  were  kept  two  nights 
and  a  day,  when,  after  taking  all  their  property  from 
them,  the  Indians  set  them  at  liberty.  The  two  men 
who  were  not  captured  returned  to  Fitch  and  reported 


116  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

their  disaster,  and  Sterrett  and  his  companions  after- 
wards joined  them.  The  party  then  went  down  to  the 
Great  Kanawha,  from  which  they  surveyed  up  along  the 
Ohio,  and  to  some  distance  inland,  to  the  Muskingum, 
when  they  left  off.  The  assistants  were  discharged 
and  Fitch  returned  home,  believing  that  one  day  he 
would  be  "  a  man  of  fortune."  In  this  trip  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  acres  were  surveyed. 

"When  he  reached  Bucks  County,  intelligence  awaited 
him  which  was  unexpected.  Whilst  he  was  away, 
Congress  had  passed  resolutions  that  the  North-Western 
Territory  should  be  divided  into  States,  and  that  all 
lands  there  should  be  laid  out  at  right  angles,  and  in 
sections  of  one  mile  square,  and  should  be  in  that 
manner  located.  His  expectations,  and  those  of  the 
company,  were  thereby  partially  frustrated,  as  there 
was  every  probability  that  much  worthless  land  would 
have  to  be  taken  in  every  section,  with  that  which  was 
good.  He  however  deemed  it  judicious  to  set  off 
again  and  re-survey,  or  rather  note  the  most  valuable 
sections,  according  to  the  plan  contemplated  by  Con- 
gress. He  accordingly  went  once  more  to  the  frontiers, 
where,  hiring  three  men,  they  rode  through  the  coun- 
try, and  when  they  came  to  good  tracts  they  made 
notes  of  the  land-marks,  so  that  when  the  sections  were 
located  by  official  surveys,  they  could  tell  which  sec- 
tions were  most  valuable.  Governor  Harrison,  of 
Virginia,  hearing  of  these  transactions,  published  a 
proclamation,  forbidding  private  surveys  of  lands  on 
the  western  side  of  the  Ohio.  This  was  aimed  particu- 
larly at  Fitch,  but  before  it  was  promulgated  the  mis- 
chief had  been  done,  and  the  admonition  was  for  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  117 

benefit  of  the  company,  as  it  deterred  other  adventurers 
from  doing  that  which  had  already  been  accomplished 
by  them. 

After  his  return,  Fitch  petitioned  Congress  for  an 
appointment  as  surveyor  in  the  western  country,  and 
was  backed  by  good  recommendations.1  Whilst  await- 
ing the  result  of  this  application,  he  made  a  draft  of 
the  North- Western  country,  from  Hutchins  and  Mor- 
row's maps,  with  additions  from  his  own  knowledge,  "  to 
keep  the  ideas  of  the  country"  in  his  mind.  He 
thought  that  it  might  be  useful  if  engraved,  and  he  got 
a  sheet  of  copper  and  hammered,  polished,  and  en- 
graved it,  and  then  made  a  press  and  printed  it.2 
Speaking  of  this  map  afterwards,  he  said,  "  It  is  true 
it  was  but  Coursely  done;  it  was  cheap, — portable  to 
any  one  who  wanted  to  go  to  the  woods,  and  more  to 

1  The  following  is  a  copy  of  that  paper :  — 

"  These  are  to  certify  that  we  have  been  acquainted  with  Mr. 
John  Fitch  for  some  time  past,  and  that  he  is  a  sober  and  in- 
dustrious man,  and  is  worthy  of  confidence  for  his  honesty  and 
integrity,  that  he  understands  the  business  of  surveying,  and 
having  travelled  through  a  great  part  of  the  Indian  country,  he 
appears  to  be  well  acquainted  with  it.  Should  Congress,  there- 
fore give  him  a  deputation  as  surveyor  of  a  district  in  one  of  the 
new  States,  we  believe  that  he  would  do  honor  to  the  appoint- 
ment by  his  knowledge,  industry,  and  fidelity,  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty. 

"Given  under  our  hands  this  29  Decembr.,  1784,  at  Phila- 
delphia. "JonN  EWING, 

"Wit.  HuxcHiNa, 

"  CADWALADER  MORRIS, 

"JoNA  D.  SERGEANT." 

2  The  first  copies  were  printed  on  a  cider  press.  —  Longstreth. 


118  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

be  relyed  upon  than  any  published."1  Whilst  thus 
engaged  his  interests  were  suffering.  Relying  too 
much  upon  his  own  merit,  and  the  strength  of  the 
recommendations  offered  by  him,  he  did  not  push  his 
petition  to  Congress  for  appointment  as  a  surveyor 
with  the  assiduity  necessary,  and  others  who  were  at 
the  seat  of  government  were  working  against  him. 
The  consequence  was  that  he  did  not  get  the  appoint- 
ment. Mr.  Hoops  obtained  it,  and  Fitch,  now  fully 
possessed  of  the  idea  of  a  great  invention  which  had 
been  partly  conceived  whilst  he  remained  at  home,  had 
scarcely  time  or  disposition  to  regret  his  failure. 

1  In  reference  to  this  map,  Mr.  Whittlesey  says  :  — 
"  The  general  positions  of  the  great  rivers  and  lakes  are  given 
•with  surprising  accuracy,  -when  we  regard  the  circumstances 
under  which  it  was  made.  Lake  Superior  appears  somewhat 
magnified  to  the  north  and  east,  but  the  outlines  of  lakes  Huron, 
Erie,  and  Michigan,  bear  a  striking  resemblance  to  more  modern 
representations.  The  extent  of  his  personal  acquaintance  with 
the  country  may  be  inferred  from  some  remarks  engraved  upon 
the  map.  For  instance,  'The  lands  on  this  lake  [Erie]  are 
generally  thin  and  swampy,  but  will  make  good  pasture  and 
meadow  lands.'  —  'From  Fort  Lawrence  and  thence  by  the 
mouth  of  the  Scioto,  a  westerly  course,  to  Illinois,  is  generally 
a  rich  level  country,  abounding  with  living  springs  and  naviga- 
ble waters,  the  air  pure,  the  climate  moderate.' — '  This  country 
[Illinois]  has  once  been  settled  by  a  people  more  expert  in  war 
than  the  present  inhabitants.'  Regular  fortifications,  and  some 
of  these  incredibly  large,  are  to  be  found,  also  many  graves,  or 
towers,  like  pyramids  of  earth.  —  Spark's  American  Biography, 
2d  Series,  Vol.  VI.,  page  109. 

A  copy  of  this  map  is  now  in  possession  of  John  L.  Long- 
streth  of  Philadelphia,  son  of  Daniel  Longstreth. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  119 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE     INVENTION     OF     THE     STEAMBOAT  —  JOURNEY    TO 
VIRGINIA. 

IN  the  month  of  April,  1785,  upon  a  Sunday,  John 
Fitch  was  walking  in  "the  street  road"  near  Nesha- 
mony,  in  Bucks  County,  in  company  with  James  Ogil- 
bee.  They  had  been  at  a  religious  meeting,  at  which 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Irwin  preached,  and  they  were  now  re- 
turning home  slowly.  A  rheumatism,  contracted  no 
doubt  during  his  recent  surveying  tours  in  the  Ohio 
country,  had  stiffened  the  limbs  of  Fitch,  and  his  pro- 
gress was  somewhat  difficult.  Whilst  he  was  limping 
along,  a  gentleman,  Mr.  Sinton,  and  his  wife,  who 
were  seated  in  a  "chair,"  drawn  by  a  noble  horse, 
passed  them  at  a  rapid  pace.  The  circumstance  was 
not  uncommon,  but  just  at  that  moment  the  progress 
of  those  travellers  was  so  much  more  rapid  than  the 
pace  of  the  pedestrians,  that  the  circumstance  set  one 
of  the  latter  to  thinking.  Mr.  Fitch  thought  that  it 
would  be  a  great  thing  to  have  a  means  of  conveyance, 
without  keeping  a  horse.  He  considered  within  him- 
self, whether  it  might  not  be  possible  to  find  some  force 
which  would  accomplish  this  important  end.  The  ex- 
pansive qualities  of  steam  seem  to  have  been  observed 
by  him  before  that  time,  and  the  idea  of  a  steam  engine 
presented  itself  to  his  fancy  as  an  efficient  method  of 
propelling  carriages  upon  land.1  At  this  time,  he 

1  This  statement  is  made  by  Fitch  in  his  papers.  It  is  vouched 
by  James  Ogilbee,  by  certificate  published  in  Fitch's  pamphlet, 


120  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

avers,  he  was  altogether  ignorant  that  a  steam  engine 
had  ever  been  invented.  Full  of  enthusiasm  with  the 
idea,  when  he  reached  home  he  proceeded  to  make 
drafts  of  a  steam  land  carriage.  He  worked  diligently 
at  this  thought  for  about  a  week,  but  doubtless  soon 
became  disheartened  when  he  reflected  upon  the  rough- 
ness of  the  common  roads  in  America  —  the  plan  of  a 
railway  not  having  presented  itself  to  his  imagination. 
His  own  quaint  account  of  the  consequences  of  that 
discovery  is  curious.  He  says : 

"I  was  so  unfortunate  in  the  month  of  April,  1785,  as  to  have 
an  idea  that  a  carriage  might  be  carried  by  the  force  of  steam 
along  the  roads.  I  pursued  that  idea  about  one  week,  and  gave 
it  over  as  impracticable,  or,  in  other  words,  turned  my  thoughts 
to  vessels,  which  appeared  to  me  that  it  might  be  applied  to  ad- 
vantage on  the  water.  From  that  time  I  have  pursued  the  Idea 
to  this  day,  with  unremitted  assiduity,  yet  do  frankly  confess 
that  it  has  been  the  most  imprudent  scheme  that  ever  I  engaged 
m.  The  mechanism  has  been  the  grandest,  altho  executed 
upon  a  small  scale,  that  was  ever  executed  by  mortal  man,  al- 
tho it  does  not  make  the  grand  appearance  that  it  would  in 
a  first-rate  man-of-war.  The  difficulties  have  been  infinitely 
greater,  as  in  a  small  boat  we  are  confined  to  room  and  weight, 
therefore  the  works  are  much  more  noble  than  if  we  had  carried 
one  thousand  tons  one  hundred  miles  in  a  day.  And  to  reflect 
on  the  disproportion  of  a  man  of  my  abilities  to  such  a  task,  I 

"  The  Original  Steamboat  Supported."  Mr.  0.  says  a  gentle- 
man and  his  wife  passed  us  by  in  a  riding-chair;  he  (Fitch) 
grew  immediately  inattentive  to  what  I  said.  Sometime  after- 
ward he  informed  me  that  then  the  first  idea  of  a  steamboat  struck 
his  mind.  James  Scout,  under  date  April  15,  1788,  certifies 
that  Fitch  told  him  that  while  walking  with  Ogilbee  he  first 
thought  of  a  steamboat  in  consequence  of  Sinton's  passing  him 
rapidly;  and  that  in  May  or  June  following  Fitch  showed  him 
(Scout)  a  plan  of  the  boat  on  paper. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  121 

am  apt  to  charge  myself  with  being  deranged  at  the  time  of 
my  engaging  in  it,  and  had  I  not  the  most  convincing  proofs  to 
the  contrary,  that  I  have  now  by  me,  I  most  certainly  should 
suppose  myself  to  be  non  compos  mentus  at  that  time. 

But  on  examining  over  my  papers,  I  find  that  there  was  46 
capital,  and  many  of  them  principal  characters,  for  Philosophy 
and  machanism,  that  gave  me  their  opinions  that  the  scheme 
was  rational.  I  may  add  to  them  the  Committee  of  the  Assem- 
bly of  Virginia  of  7  members,  of  Maryland  5,  of  Pennsylvania 
3,  and  to  that  number  27  that  have  engaged  and  advanced 
money  on  it,  which  are  generally  men  of  the  first  character  — 
in  all  90  —  that  has  testified  either  by  Certificate  or  otherwise 
that  I  absolutely  was  in  my  senses  at  the  time. 

Yet  notwithstanding  all  this,  I  should  have  doubted  both 
them  and  myself,  had  not  the  God  of  Nature  testified  the  same. 
What  I  call  Lunccy,  is  a  train  of  deranged  unconnected  ideas. 
It  is  well  known  that  a  steam  engine  is  a  complicated  machine, 
and  to  make  that  and  connect  it  with  the  works  for  propelling  a 
boat,  must  take  a  long  train  of  Ideas,  and  them  all  connected, 
and  no  one  part  of  them  disjointed ;  for  the  Laws  of  God  are  so 
positive  that  the  greatest  favorite  of  Heaven  would  not  succeed 
contrary  to  the  fixed  Laws  of  Nature,  no  sooner  than  the  most 
profain  sinner. 

I  have  now  made  use  of  a  long  train  of  reasoning  to  prove 
that  I  was  not  a  Lunitic,  and  doubt  not  but  that  my  reasons  will 
convince  the  world  in  general,  that  I  was  not.  Yet,  notwithstand- 
ing the  infaliablo  evidences  which  I  have  produced,  it  does  not 
bring  full  conviction  with  me  ;  for  had  I  the  abilities  of  Cissaroe, 
it  ought  to  be  esteemed  madness  in  me  to  have  undertaken  it  in 
my  state  of  penury.  Had  I  been  a  Nobleman  of  £3000  per  year, 
it  would  bearly  justified  my  Conduct,  than  as  the  world  from  the 
evidence  which  I  have  produced  are  obliged  to  justify  my  Con- 
duct. I,  on  the  other  hand,  have  a  right  to  declare  myself  a 
Madman,  and  I  think  I  can  prove  this  on  the  following  princi- 
ples: 

As  I  know  of  nothing  so  perplexing  and  vexatious  to  a  man 
of  fealings  as  a  turbulant  Wife  and  Steamboat  building.  I 
experienced  the  former,  and  quit  in  season,  and  had  I  been  in 
11 


122  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

my  right  sences,  I  should  undoubtedly  treated  the  latter  in  the 
same  manner;  but  for  one  man  to  be  teised  with  Both,  he  must 
be  looked  on  as  the  most  unfortunate  man  of  the  world.  There- 
fore I  find  I  must  leave  the  World  and  myself  as  much  in  the 
dark  as  ever  about  my  interlects,  and  inform  them  how  I  pro- 
ceeded." 

Discouraged  by  the  difficulty  of  completing  land 
carriages,  Fitch  turned  his  attention  to  the  perfecting 
of  some  method  of  propelling  vessels  upon  the  water. 
He  immediately  set  to  work  with  ardor  to  perfect  the 
draft  of  a  boat  to  be  moved  by  steam,  and  after  two 
or  three  weeks  he  took  his  drawings  to  his  friend,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Irwin,  of  Neshamony.  The  latter  had  in 
his  library  "Martin's  Philosophy,"1  in  which  was  a 
description  of  a  steam  engine.  "Although  it  was  not 
to  my  credit,"  confesses  Fitch,  frankly,  "I  did  not 
know  that  there  was  a  steam  engine  on  earth,  when  I 
proposed  to  gain  a  force  by  steam;"  and  he  adds,  that 
upon  being  shown  the  drawing  at  Mr.  Irwin's,  he  was 
"very  much  chagrined."  But  upon  reflection  this 
knowledge  strengthened  his  resolution,  now  being  as- 
sured that  the  machinery  would  not  fail  of  propulsion, 
if  he  could  gain  the  force. 

The  first  and  most  obvious  course,  was  to  try  by  ex- 
periment to  obtain  a  proper  method  of  propulsion,  by 
which  the  vessel  could  be  moved  by  the  active  power. 
Jn  casting  about  for  the  best  means,  paddle-wheels  simi- 
lar to  those  afterward  used  by  Fulton,  seem  to  have 
suggested  themselves.  Mr.  Longstreth  says  :' 

1  "Philosophia  Brittanica,"  by  Benj.  Martin.     London,  1747. 
This  contains  descriptions  of  Newcomen's,  Savary's,and  Cowley'a 
old-fashioned  atmospheric  steam  engine. 

2  "John  Fitch  of  steamboat   memory."  —  Bucks  Co.  Intelli- 
gencer.    Watson's  Annals  of  Philad.,  Vol.  II.,  page  450. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  123 

"It  was  in  this  log  shop  [Cobe  Scout's]  that  Fitch  made  his 
model  steamboat,  with  paddle-wheels  as  they  are  now  used. 

The  model  was  tried  on  a  small  stream  on  Joseph  Longstreth's 
meadow,  about  half  a  mile  from  Davisville,  in  Southampton 
township,  and  it  realized  every  expectation.  The  machinery 
was  made  of  brass,  with  the  exception  of  the  paddle-wheels, 
•which  were  made  of  wood  by  Nathaniel  B.  Boileau,  whilst  on  a 
visit  during  vacation  from  Princeton  College.1 

1  Daniel  Longstreth  deserves  honor  for  his  efforts  to  impress 
upon  his  countrymen  the  just  merits  of  John  Fitch.  He  was 
the  first  person  who,  after  the  circumstances  attending  the  ori- 
ginal steamboat  experiments  were  generally  forgotten,  attempted 
to  interest  the  world  in  the  history  of  this  neglected  man.  His 
father,  Daniel  Longstreth,  of  Bucks  County,  had  been  the  friend 
and  associate  of  Fitch,  and  from  his  lips  young  Longstreth  had 
often  heard  the  singular  story  of  the  neglected  genius,  of  whom 
he  also  had  some  memory  among  the  recollections  of  his  boy- 
hood. After  the  publication  of  Colden's  Life  of  Fulton,  Daniel 
Longstreth  the  younger,  pained  at  the  cold  disdain  with  which 
the  claims  of  the  original  inventor  of  steamboats  was  treated,  en- 
deavored to  call  attention  to  the  labors  of  the  friend  of  his  father. 
He  succeeded  in  interesting  John  F.  Watson,  the  author  of  "An- 
nals of  Philadelphia,"  in  the  matter,  and  the  brief  notice  taken 
by  the  latter  of  the  merits  of  Fitch,  has  done  much  to  give  interest 
to  a  history  but  little  understood.  Concerning  Daniel  Longstreth 
the  younger,  the  following  particulars  have  been  obtained  from 
"VVm.  J.  Buck,  author  of  the  History  of  Bucks  County: 

His  ancestor,  Bartholomew  Longstreth,  was  an  early  settler 
of  Warminster  tp.,  Bucks  Co.,  having  come  from  Yorkshire, 
Eng.,  in  1099,  and  was  married  to  Ann,  the  daughter  of  John 
Dawson,  an  early  settler  of  the  present  village  of  Ilatborough. 
B.  L.  built  himself  a  house  in  Warminster  about  the  year  1714> 
not  far  from  the  present  village  of  Johnsville.  Daniel  L.  was  a 
farmer,  and  in  addition  kept  a  boarding-school  for  boys.  He 
died  in  Warminster  tp.  (5  miles  N.  E.  of  Willow  Grove)  about 
the  year  1850,  at  an  advanced  age.  He  was  regarded  by  many 
of  his  neighbors  as  an  eccentric  man.  His  greatest  study  was 
astronomy.  He  was  a  man  of  blameless  life,  and  was  much 


124  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Mr.  Boileau,  a  highly  respectable  man,  who  was  at 
one  time  an  influential  politician  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
who  was  Secretary  of  State  under  Governor  Snyder, 
made  this  statement  to  Daniel  Longstreth.1 

respected.  Himself  and  ancestors  belonged  to  the  society  of 
Friends.  Most  of  Watson's  information  concerning  Fitch  he 
derived  from  Daniel  Longstreth,  whom  he  calls  in  his  Annals, 
"D.  L." 

Charles  Whittlesey,  of  Cincinnati,  also  has  done  much  to 
awaken  attention  to  the  claims  of  Fitch.  He  published  a  pam- 
phlet in  1845,  entitled  "  Justice  to  the  Memory  of  John  Fitch," 
and  in  1845  wrote  A  Sketch  of  the  Life  of  John  Fitch,  Sparks' 
American  Biography,  Vol.  6,  new  series,  which  contains  eighty- 
eight  pages. 

1  "  The  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Boileau's  father  was  Isaac  Boileau, 
who  came  from  Long  Island,  and  settled  in  Mooreland  [Bucks 
County,  Pennsylvania,]  about  1750.  He  was  descended  from 
ancestors  driven  from  France  by  the  repeal  of  the  edict  of 
Nantes.  During  the  Revolution  he  was  the  ardent  friend  of 
his  country ;  he  died  October  22,  1803,  in  the  81st  year  of  his 
age.  Nathaniel  was  born  on  his  father's  plantation,  near  Hat- 
borough,  in  1762,  and  at  an  early  age  graduated  at  Princeton 
College,  though  he  never  adopted  a  profession.  For  twelve 
years  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  State  legislature,  where 
he  took  a  leading  part  in  the  impeachment  of  the  judges  in 
1805-6.  In  1808  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  State  by 
Governor  Snyder,  and  continued  the  entire  period  of  three  terms. 
This  was  a  trying  time  in  the  history  of  our  State,  and  embraced 
the  last  war  with  England.  During  his  official  intercourse  he 
won  the  entire  confidence  of  Governor  Snyder,  and  returned  his 
warm  friendship  ever  afterward.  In  1817  he  was  a  candidate 
for  Governor,  but  the  choice  fell  upon  the  Hon.  William  Findley. 
In  1835,  Governor  Ritner  appointed  him  Register  of  Wills  for 
Montgomery  County,  which  was  the  last  office  he  held,  and  since 
1839  he  lived  in  retirement  on  his  farm  in  the  lower  part  of 
Hatborough,  adjoining  the  academy.  In  1849  he  removed  to 
Abington,  where  he  died  the  IGth  of  March,  1850,  at  the 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  125 

Mr.  Whittlesey  says  upon  the  same  subject :  — 
"The  buckets  of  the  wheels  were  found  to  labor  too  much  in 
the  water,  entering,  as  they  did,  at  a  considerable  angle,  and  de- 
parting at  the  same.  They  lost  power  by  striking  at  the  surface 
and  afterwards  lifting  themselves  out  of  water.  This  led  to  the 
substitution  of  oars  or  paddles." 

A  further  evidence  will  be  seen  in  the  letter  of  Dr. 
Ewing,  which  will  be  shortly  quoted,  which  shows  that 
his  method  was  by  turning  wheels,  or  a  single  wheel  in 
the  water.  A  still  further  confirmation  is  found  in  the 
General  Advertiser  of  November  29,  1791.  The  diffi- 
culty under  which  the  small  paddle-wheels  labored  is 
there  concisely  noticed. 

Whilst  engaged  in  experiments,  he  had  printed  a 
number  of  copies  of  his  map  of  the  North- Western 
country  for  sale,  and  thus  announced  the  fact  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Packet  of  June  30,  1785  :  — 

"JOHN  FITCH, 

Having  traversed  the  country  North- West  of  the  Ohio,  in  the 
several  capacities  of  a  Captive,  Surveyor,  Traveller,  &c.  Aa 
the  result  of  his  labors  and  remarks,  has  completed,  and  now 
wishes  to  sell,  a  new  accurate  map  of  that  country,  generally 
distinguished  by  the  Ten  new  States,  including  Kentucky,  which 
opens  immense  sources  of  wealth  and  advantageous  speculation 
to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  is,  therefore,  an  object 
of  general  attention.  And  having  performed  the  engraving  and 
printing  himself,  is  enabled  to  sell  at  the  very  small  price  of  a 
French  crown. 

"  To  be  sold  by  William  Prichard,  on  the  North  side  of  Market 
Street,  opposite  Laetitia  Court." 

advanced  age  of  88  years,  in  the  midst  of  a  warm  circle  of 
friends.  In  all  the  relations  of  life,  he  commanded  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  community,  and  was  favorably  known  for 
many  kind  and  benevolent  acts."  —  History  of  Mooreland,  by 
William  J.  Buck;  Collections  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Vol.  I.,  page  212. 
11* 


126  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Every  thought  encouraged  Fitch  in  his  plan,  and 
after  spending  more  time  upon  the  details  of  his  inven- 
tion he  determined  to  seek  the  assistance  of  Congress. 
On  the  20th  of  August,  1785,  Dr.  John  Ewing,  pro- 
vost of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  gave  Fitch  a 
letter  to  William  C.  Houston,  formerly  a  member  of 
Congress,  and  who,  by  some  mistake,  was  supposed  to 
be  a  representative  at  that  time. 

"  PHILAD.,  20  August,  1785. 

"DEAR  SIR: — I  have  examined  Mr.  Fitche's  machine  for  rowing 
a  Boat,  by  the  alternate  operation  of  steam,  and  the  atmosphere, 
and  am  of  opinion  that  his  principles  are  proper,  and  Philosophi- 
cal, and  have  no  doubt  of  the  success  of  the  scheme  if  executed 
by  a  skilful  workman.  It  is  certain  that  the  extensive  force  of 
Water,  when  converted  into  steam,  is  equal  to  any  obstruction 
that  can  be  laid  in  its  way,  so  as  to  burst  any  metalick  vessel 
in  which  we  would  endeavour  to  confine  it,  and  the  application 
of  this  force  to  turn  a  wheel  in  the  water,  so  as  to  answer  the 
purpose  of  Oars,  seems  easy  and  natural  by  the  machine  which 
he  proposes,  and  of  which  he  has  shown  me  a  rough  model. 
Should  such  a  machine  be  brought  into  common  use  in  the  in- 
land navigation  through  the  United  States,  it  would  be  exceed- 
ingly advantageous  in  transporting  the  productions  of  America 
to  market,  and  thereby  greatly  increase  the  value  of  our  back 
Lands.  — He  proposes  to  lay  his  invention  before  Congress,  and 
I  hope  he  will  meet  with  the  incouragement  which  his  mechani- 
cal genius  deserves.  The  project  deserves  .a  trial  to  be  made  of 
it,  to  see  how  far  the  execution  will  answer  the  theory;  the 
countenance  of  Congress  in  these  productions  of  Genius,  will 
encourage  others  and  thereby  give  birth  to  discoveries  that  may 
be  infinitely  Beneficial.  As  you  are  a  Gentleman  of  Knowledge 
in  these  matters,  I  make  no  doubt  of  his  receiving  your  patron- 
age so  far  at  least  as  to  give  him  an  opportunity  of  laying  his 
scheme  before  Congress. 

"  I  am,  sir, 

"  &c.,  &c., 

"  JOHN  EWING. 
"  To  WILLIAM  C.  HOUSTON,  ESQ." 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCII.  127 

The  letter  of  Dr.  Ewing  to  Mr.  Houston,  was  de- 
livered to  the  latter  in  a  day  or  two  after  it  was  written. 
Mr.  Houston,  not  being  a  memher  of  Congress,  enclosed 
the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Ewing  to  Lambert  Cad- 
wallader,  then  a  delegate  for  New  Jersey,  accompany- 
ing it  with  a  letter  of  his  own  in  the  following  terms  : — 

"TRENTON,  25  August,  1785. 

"Sin: — I  have  examined  the  Principles  and  construction  of 
Mr.  Fitche's  steamboat,  and  though  not  troubled  with  a  Pen- 
chant for  projects,  cannot  help  approving  the  simplicity  of  the 
plan.  The  greatest  objections  to  most  pretensions  of  this  sort, 
is  the  delicacy  and  complication  of  the  machinery.  This  does 
not  seem  liable  to  such  objections ;  as  to  the  moving  force  of  the 
whole,  we  know  very  well  that  the  power  of  steam  is  beyond 
conception,  it  is  everything  but  omnipotent,  and  almost  that. 

"  The  model  is  plain,  and  you  will  at  once  form  a  judgment 
of  its  probable  general  effect.  The  difference  produced  by 
standing  or  running  water  is  to  be  more  attentively  considered. 
I  enclose  you  Dr.  Ewing's  letter.  He  is  certainly  an  able  judge 
in  these  cases,  and  I  cannot  help  expressing  a  wish  that  it  may 
be  practicable  to  do  something  toward  procuring  an  experiment. 
The  person  who  offerS  it,  you  know.  He  is  a  man  highly  de- 
serving, as  modest,  ingenious,  enterprising  and  of  good  morals. 
"I  am,  sir, 

"  &c.,  &e., 

"  WILLM.  C.  HOUSTON. 

"  HONORABLE  L.  CADWALADER,  ESQRE." 

Congress  was  then  in  session  in  New  York,  and 
while  upon  his  way  thither  Fitch  stopped  at  Princeton, 
where,  having  shown  his  plans  to  Dr.  Smith,  provost 
of  the  College,  the  latter  gave  him  the  subjoined  letter 
to  the  Hon.  Mr.  Read,  member  of  Congress  from  North 
Carolina :  — 


128  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

"  PRINCETON,  Aug.  27,  1785. 

"SiR:  —  The  bearer,  Mr.  John  Fitch,  has  shown  me  a  model 
of  an  instrument  to  row  a  Boat  against  streams,  which  appears 
to  me  to  be  constructed  on  just  and  Philosophical  principles. 
As  he  desires  to  propose  it  to  Congress,  in  order  to  obtain  their 
encouragement  and  assistance  to  construct  a  Boat  on  the  same 
principles,  he  has  requested  to  be  introduced  to  some  gentlemen 
of  distinction  in  the  honorable  Body,  supposing  it  may  be  of  uso 
to  forward  his  intentions.  After  convincing  them  of  its  practi- 
cability and  utility,  if  he  should  obtain  adequate  assistance  for 
that  purpose,  he  makes  no  doubt  that  Congress  will  give  him 
such  reward  as  they  may  think  his  Mechanical  ingenuity  and 
the  benefit  of  his  inventions  may  entitle  him  to,  or  perhaps  that 
they  will  so  recommend  him  to  the  Legislators  of  particular 
States  that  are  likely  to  derive  the  most  benefit  from  it,  as  that 
he  shall  not  want  a  proper  compensation.  You  will  best  judge, 
sir,  how  far  Congress  may  think  it  their  duty  to  attend  to,  or  to 
promote,  an  object  of  the  kind,  or  to  refer  it  immediately  to 
particular  Legislators.— But  I  am  assured  that  if  it  be  consistent 
•with  their  duty,  a  scheme  that  is  the  effect  of  ingenuity  and 
application,  and  promises  to  be  of  public  service,  will  not  want 
a  proper  patron  in  you. 

"  I  am,  sir, 

"  &c.4  &c., 

"  SAML.  SMITH. 

"  HONORABLE  MR.  READ." 

The  following  was  the  letter  to  Congress :  — ! 

"  August  29,  1785. 

^  SIR  :  —  The  subscriber  begs  leave  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  Con- 
gress, an  attempt  he  has  made  to  facilitate  the  internal  Naviga- 

1  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  reports  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Congress  of  the  Confederation  are  very  meagre.  The  published 
minutes  are  composed  of  short  notes,  which  seem  to  have  been 
kept  as  a  record  of  the  most  important  matters  only.  Motions 
which  were  unsuccessful,  reports  upon  subjects  which  were 
never  definitely  acted  upon,  and  the  presentations  of  petitions 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  129 

tion  of  the  United  States,  adapted  especially  to  the  "Waters  of 
the  Mississippi. 

"The  Machine  he  has  invented  for  the  purpose,  has  been 
examined  by  several  Gentlemen  of  Learning  and  Ingenuity,  who 
have  given  it  their  approbation. 

"Being  thus  encouraged,  he  is  desirous  to  solicit  the  attention 
of  Congress,  to  a  rough  model  of  it  now  with  him,  that,  after 
examination  into  the  principles  upon  which  it  operates,  they 
may  be  enabled  to  judge  whether  it  deserves  encouragement. 
And  he,  as  in  duty  bound,  shall  ever  pray. 

"  JOHN  FITCH. 

"  His  Excellency,  the  President 
of  Congress." 

The  application  was  referred  to  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Read  and  King  of  Massachusetts, 
and  Mr.  Henry  of  Maryland.  This  committee  made 
no  report,  much  to  the  disappointment  of  the  inventor. 

Failing  here,  in  September  he  made  an  application 
for  assistance  to  the  minister  of  the  King  of  Spain, 
who  was  then  at  New  York.  The  ambassador  listened 
to  the  proposals  with  interest,  and  gave  encouragement, 

and  memorials  which  were  referred  or  laid  on  the  table,  are  not 
noticed.  This  peculiarity  has  prevented  the  procurement  of 
some  important  documents,  etc.,  confirming  the  statements  of 
Fitch  as  to  what  was  done  by  Congress  in  reference  to  his  steam- 
boat plan.  Wherever  it  has  been  possible  to  find  evidence  on 
the  subject  in  other  quarters,  his  narrative  has  been  confirmed 
to  the  letter,  and  he  was  so  truthful  that  the  writer  of  this 
biography  has  had  no  difficulty  in  accepting  his  statements  with 
confidence.  The  reader  is  requested  to  bear  this  in  mind  as  we 
proceed.  The  letter  to  Congress  here  given  is  referred  to  by 
Fitch,  but  no  copy  is  given,  nor  is  there  any  note  of  it  on  the 
minutes  of  Congress  as  published.  Dr.  Thornton  supplied  this 
document  in  his  pamphlet,  "  A  Short  Account  of  the  Origin  of 
Steamboats,"  written  in  1810. 


130  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

but,  like  a  faithful  subject,  he  desired  that  the  invention 
should  be  for  the  benefit  of  his  Royal  master.  Fitch, 
on  the  contrary,  wished  that  the  invention  should  be 
for  the  advantage  of  mankind.  If  he  had  accepted 
the  offers  of  the  Spanish  minister,  he  might  have  been 
rich.  "  God  forbid  !"  exclaims  he,  writing  in  great 
distress  of  mind  and  while  meditating  suicide  in  1792, 
"  God  forbid  that  I  should  ever  be  in  the  like  error 
again,  if  ever  in  my  power  to  prevent  it.  The  strange 
ideas  I  had  at  that  time  of  serving  my  country,  with- 
out the  least  suspicion  that  my  only  reward  would  be 
nothing  but  contempt  and  opprobrious  names,  has 
taught  me  a  mighty  lesson  in  mankind  —  and  to  do  it 
at  the  displeasure  of  the  whole  Spanish  nation,  is  one 
of  the  most  impolitic  strokes  that  a  Blockhead  could 
be  guilty  of." 

Fitch  returned  to  Bucks  County  very  much  incensed 
at  the  cool  treatment  he  had  met  with  in  New  York, 
and  with  a  determination  to  persevere  and  show  the 
committee  of  Congress  that  they  were  "  ignorant  boys." 
He  had  not  much  else  to  occupy  his  mind,  for  in  the 
meantime  a  new  misfortune  had  fallen  upon  him. 
Congress  had  resolved  that  the  public  lands  should  be 
sold  at  public  vendue,  and  in  such  a  manner  that  all 
the  hopes  of  the  land  company,  in  consequence  of  their 
superior  knowledge,  were  swept  away.  This  was  a 
severe  disappointment  not  only  to  our  adventurer,  but 
to  his  associates.  In  reference  to  his  own  hopes  he 
said,  "Thus  was  an  immense  fortune  reduced  to  nothing 
at  one  blow.  I  could  have  located  two  hundred  thou- 
sand acres,  beside  what  the  company  were  entitled  to 
for  the  halves,  and  found  plenty  of  encouragement." 


LIFE    OF. JO  UN    FITCH.  131 

He  had  nothing  to  do  now  but  to  apply  his  energies  to 
the  project  of  the  steamboat,  to  which  he  lent  every 
thought. 

On  the  27th  of  September,  1785,  he  presented  a 
drawing  of  his  boat  and  models  to  the  American 
Philosophical  Society,  at  Philadelphia,  and  was  per- 
mitted to  attend  their  meeting.  He  said,  "  that  upon 
that  occasion  no  new  ideas  were  advanced  more  than 
he  had  previously  thought  of,  and  some  of  the  most 
material  were  not  touched." 


John   Fitch's   model  of   Sept.,  1785,  with  endless  chain  and  floats  and  paddle- 
boardg,  in  possession  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society. 

He  had  now  modified  his  plan  by  substituting  for 
paddle-wheels  an  endless  chain,  passing  over  screws  or 
rollers,  to  which  blades  or  floats  were  attached  to 
answer  as  paddles. 


A  section  of  chain  and  paddle 

The  model  thus  prepared  is  the  only  memorial  of 
Fitch  now  preserved  by  the  society.  The  drawings, 
descriptions,  and  all  other  papers  are  missing.  The 
following  entries  on  the  minutes  are  the  only  recorded 
evidence  on  the  subject : 


132  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

"  Tuesday,  September  27,  1785 

"The  model,  with  a  Drawing  and  Description,  of  a  Machine 
for  working  a  Boat  against  the  stream  by  means  of  a  steam- 
engine,  was  laid  before  the  Society  by  Mr.  John  Fitch." 

"  December  2d,  1785. 

"  A  copy  of  the  Drawing  and  Description  of  a  Machine  for 
rowing  a  boat  against  the  current,  which  sometime  ago  was  laid 
before  the  Society  by  Mr.  John  Fitch,  he  this  evening  presented 
to  them." 

He  now  determined  to  set  out  for  Kentucky,  in  the 
hope  that  encouragement  might  be  obtained  there. 
His  intended  course  was  by  way  of  Virginia,  where  he 
wished  to  stop  at  Richmond  to  look  after  his  patents. 
Not  having  relinquished  his  idea  of  the  steamboat,  he 
appealed  to  the  distinguished  American  whose  reputa- 
tion in  philosophy  had  attained  a  world-wide  celebrity, 
in  the  anticipation  that  he  would  extend  a  helping 
hand  to  genius  struggling  against  the  most  dispiriting 
difficulties.  He  tells  the  story  thus,  in  1790  :  — 

"Before  I  went  I  called  on  Dr.  Franklin,  who  spoke  very  flat- 
teringly of  the  scheme,  and  I  doubted  not  of  his  patronage  in 
it,  although  I  could  obtain  nothing  from  him  in  writing  before 
the  2nd  day  of  December,  when  he  laid  a  scheme  of  a  steam- 
boat before  the  Philosophical  Society  ;  but  not  knowing  him  then 
as  well  as  I  do  now,  before  I  set  out  I  wrote  him  a  letter  on  the 
occation,  setting  forth  the  practicability  of  the  scheme,  the  Great 
use  it  would  be  to  the  United  States,  and  praying  his  patronage, 
and  of  my  determination  of  Returning  from  Kentucky  early  in 
the  Spring ;  but  as  the  Dr.  had  other  things  in  view,  he  did  not 
answer  it,  but  being  desirous  of  gaining  the  Honour  to  himself, 
laid  down  some  what  of  a  different  plan  to  the  Philosophical  So- 
ciety in  December.  Had  the  Doctor  acted  himself,  he  might 
easily  ingroced  the  whole  honours,  as  I  was  no  ways  tenatious 
for  that,  but  my  grand  Views  were  to  render  service  to  my  Coun- 
try, and  Chastize  the  Ignorant  Boys  of  Congress." 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  133 

The  letter  thus  referred  to,  is  in  the  possession  of 
the  American  Philosophical  Society,  and  is  as  follows : 

BUCKS  COUNTY,  12  October,  1785. 
MAY  IT  PLEASE  TOUR  EXCELLENCY  — 

The  subscriber  most  humbly  begs  leave  to  trouble  you  with 
something  further  on  the  subject  of  a  Steam  Boat.  His  san- 
guine opinion  in  favour  of  its  answering  the  purpose  to  his  ut- 
most wishes,  emboldens  him  to  presume  it  will  not  give  offence. 
And  if  his  opinion  carries  him  to  excess,  he  doubts  not  but  your 
Excellency  will  make  proper  allowance.  As  it  is  a  matter  in 
his  opinion  of  the  first  Magnitude  not  only  to  the  United  States, 
but  to  every  Maratime  power  in  the  World,  as  he  is  full  in  the 
belief  that  it  will  answer  for  sea  Voiages,  as  well  as  for  inland 
Navigation,  in  particular  for  Packets  where  there  should  be  a 
great  number  of  Pasengers.  He  is  of  opinion  that  fewel  for  a 
short  Yoiag,  would  not  exceed  the  weight  of  water  for  a  long 
one,  as  it  would  produce  a  constant  supply  of  fresh  water.  He 
also  believes  that  it  would  be  able  to  make  head  against  the 
most  Violent  Tempests,  and  thereby  escape  the  dangers  of  a  Lee 
Shore.  And  that  the  same  force  may  be  applied  to  a  Pump,  to 
free  a  leaky  Ship  of  her  Water.  What  emboldens  him  to  be 
thus  presuming  in  the  good  effects  of  the  machine,  is  the  almost 
Omnipotent  force  by  which  it  is  actuated,  and  the  very  Simple, 
easy  and  natural  way  by  which  the  Screw  or  Paddles  are  turned 
to  answer  the  purpose  of  Oars. 

€  expect  to  return  from  Kentucky  about  the  first  of  June  next, 
and  nothing  would  give  me  more  secret  pleasure  than  to  make 
an  Essay  under  your  Patronage,  and  have  your  Friendly  assis- 
tance in  introducing  another  useful  art  into  the  World. 
With  the  most  perfect  Respect, 

I  am  your  most  Devoted 

Humble  Servant, 

JOHN  FITCH. 
His  Excellency,  Dr.  FRANKLIN. 

The   presentation    of   Franklin's  plan  referred  to  by 
Fitch  is  noted  in  the  minutes  of  the  American  Philo- 
sophical Society,  as  follows : 
12 


134  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

DEC.  2,  1785.  Mr.  Ilopkinson  presented  to  the  Society  a  Dis- 
sertation written  by  Dr.  Franklin,  containing  a  great  number  of 
curious  and  useful  observations  and  discoveries  relative  to  voy- 
ages and  maritime  affairs,  which  being  read, 

On  motion,  ordered  that  the  thanks  of  the  Society  be  returned 
to  his  Excellency  for  this  entertaining  and  valuable  communi- 
cation. 

The  accusation  made  by  Fitch  against  Franklin  is 
not  borne  out  precisely  "in  manner  and  form"  as  pre- 
ferred, but  it  is  substantially  sustained.  The  article 
"on  Maritime  Affairs"  is  published  in  the  Transac- 
tions of  the  Society,  but  easy  reference  for  general 
purposes  may  be  made  to  Sparks'  Life  of  Franklin, 
Vol.  VI.,  page  463.  It  purports  to  be  a  dissertation 
written  at  sea,  on  board  the  London  packet,  Captain 
Truxtun,  August,  1785,  and  is  in  the  shape  of  a  letter 
to  David  Leroy,  Paris.  The  subjects  treated  of  are 
various,  and  have  no  reference  to  steam  navigation  what- 
ever. Among  other  things,  Dr.  Franklin  speaks  of  plans 
of  propulsion  by  circular  paddles  on  the  circumference  of 
wheels — a  method  frequently  used,  but  which  had  never 
been  found  so  effectual  as  to  encourage  a  continuance  of 
the  practice.  He  then  refers  to  the  plan  of  M.  Bernoulli, 
as  being  most  singular.  It  was  to  have  fixed  in  the 
boat  a  tube,  in  the  form  of  an  [_,  with  an  upright  fun- 
nel opening  at  the  top,  convenient  for  filling  it  with 
water,  which,  descending  and  passing  through  the  lower 
horizontal  part,  and  issuing  from  the  middle  of  the 
stern  of  the  boat,  under  the  surface  of  the  water, 
should  push  the  boat  forward.  The  Doctor  observes 
that  a  defect  of  this  plan  would  be,  that  every  bucket- 
ful dipped  or  pumped  from  one  side,  or  both,  must  have 
its  vis  inertiae  overcome,  so  as  to  receive  the  motion 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


135 


of  the  boat  before  giving  motion  to  its  descent,  and 
thus  be  a  deduction  from  the  moving  power.  To 
remedy  this,  Dr.  Franklin  proposed  that  another  tube, 
same  shape,  having  a  valve  for  the  entrance  of  the 
water  below  at  the  bow  should  be  placed  along-side  the 
other  L  pipe>  back  to  back,  thus  JL  .  The  water 
pumped  in  front  would  thus  help  to  give  motion  to  the 
boat. 


Dr.  Franklin's  plan  of  a  Pumping  Boat  to  go  by  ejection  of  water. 

He  also  suggested  that  a  stream  of  air  might  be 
made  to  issue  from  the  stern,  so  as  to  give  means  of 
propulsion  by  the  reaction  against  the  water.  In  all 
these  suggestions  there  is  no  hint  of  employing  steam 
to  do  the  pumping ;  and  for  aught  that  appears,  Dr. 
Franklin,  who  speaks  of  it  more  as  a  curiosity  than  of 
presumed  utility,  contemplated  no  other  moving  power 
than  the  strength  of  men. 


Dr.  Franklin's  plan  of  an  Air  Boat  to  go  by  forcing  out  air  against  water. 

But  there  is  evidence  to  sustain  Fitch  from  other 
sources.  The  most  important  is  an  article  printed  in 
the  General  Advertiser  for  Nov.  29,  1791,  which  was 


136  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

edited  and  published  by  Benjamin  Franklin  Bache,  a 
grandson  of  the  philosopher.  What  is  therefore  said 
in  relation  to  Franklin's  plan  for  a  steam-boat  has  the 
stamp  of  family  authority.  The  article  was  an  edito- 
rial. It  depreciates  Fitch's  efforts,  and  asserts  that 
Franklin  proposed  to  apply  steam  to  a  boat  for  pumping 
and  ejecting  water,  as  early  as  1785.  It  is  also  curi- 
ous upon  account  of  its  containing  a  suggestion  of  the 
employment  of  a  screw  propeller.  The  following  is 
what  was  said  on  this  subject  : 

Some  attempts  have  been  made  to  propel  boats  by  the  force 
of  steam.  The  power  of  steam  is  certainly  prodigious,  and  there 
can  be  but  little  doubt  of  its  answering  this  desirable  object,  if 
properly  applied.  Hitherto,  the  machinery  made  use  of  has 
been  complex,  occasioning  much  friction,  and  wanting  frequent 
repairs.  Besides,  the  force  has  been  applied  to  give  motion  to 
paddles,  whereby  power  has  been  always  misapplied.  In  the 
first  experiments  the  force  was  applied  to  turning  an  axis,  which 
carried  a  number  of  paddles  as  radii.  In  this  mode  of  proceed- 
ing, power  was  lost ;  for  when  the  paddle  began  to  act  in  the 
•water,  it  acted  obliquely,  tending  but  in  a  small  degree  to  propel 
the  boat,  but  chiefly  only  to  lighten  it.  In  this  manner  of 
operating,  the  paddle  in  its  progress  produced  more  and  more 
of  its  desired  effect,  until  it  acquired  a  perpendicular  position, 
at  which  point  only  for  an  instant  all  its  force  acted  in  propel- 
ling, after  which,  while  emerging  its  propelling  power  decreased, 
and  its  action  tended  more  and  more  to  sink  the  boat  deeper. 
To  avoid  this  misapplication  of  power,  a  more  complex  and  un- 
wieldy machine  was  constructed,  in  which  the  paddles  dipped 
into  the  water  perpendicularly  when  operating,  acting  altogether 
in  propelling,  and  emerged  also  in  a  perpendicular  position. 
This  contrivance  had  its  inconvenience.  While  the  paddle  was 
immerging  and  emerging  it  opposed  a  considerable  surface  to 
the  action  of  the  water,  and  checked  the  progress  of  the  boat. 

Dr.  Franklin,  in  the  year  1785,  planned  a  simple  method  of 
applying  steam  to  give  motion  to  boats.  He  proposed  that  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  137 

steam  should  act  immediately  upon  a  piston,  which  should  move 
in  a  cylinder  perpendicularly  fixed  in  the  centre  of  the  boat. 
The  bottom  of  this  cylinder  connected  with  a  horizontal  cylinder 
fixed  from  bow  to  stern,  and  there  communicating  with  the  sur- 
rounding water.  Two  valves  in  the  horizontal  cylinder  on  each 
side  of  the  perpendicular  one,  each  opening  towards  the  stern. 
When  in  this  simple  machine  the  piston  rose  by  the  force  of  the 
steam,  the  bow  valve  would  open  and  the  water  rush  in  with 
considerable  force,  fill  it,  and  also  the  perpendicular  cylinder. 
The  piston  would  then  descend,  the  bow  valve  shut,  that  nearest 
the  stern  open,  and  the  body  of  water  rush  thro'  the  after  part 
of  the  horizontal  cylinder,  and  out  with  considerable  violence 
against  the  surrounding  fluid,  and  consequently  propel  the  boat. 

He  conceived  also  that  when  the  piston  ascended  the  boat 
would  acquire  a  small  quantity  of  motion  by  water  being  sucked 
in  at  the  bow.  These  cylinders  he  proposed  should  be  of  a  con- 
siderable diameter,  the  exact  size  to  be  fixed  by  experiment,  and 
suggested  the  propriety  of  doubling  the  apparatus,  the  pistons 
to  work  alternately. 

The  simplicity  of  this  contrivance,  and  the  little  friction  it 
would  occasion,  are  considerable  recommendations  to  it ;  but  a 
striking  objection  to  this  is  a  waste  of  power.  The  whole  force 
of  the  water  rushing  out  of  the  stern  would  not  tend  to  propel 
the  boat,  as  the  surrounding  fluid  would  not  oppose  an  absolute 
resistance  to  the  column  of  water  acting  on  it. 

The  following  is  proposed  as  free  from  the  objections  to  the 
above  contrivance. 

Let  the  steam  act  in  turning  an  axis,  bearing  a  number  of  thin 
metal  vanes  fixed  like  the  vanes  of  a  windmill,  in  the  proper 
angle,  and  let  these  vanes  act  under  water  at  the  bow  or  stern 
of  the  boat,  as  most  convenient.  By  the  rotary  motion  of  the 
axis  the  vanes  would  all  continually  screw  themselves  into  the 
water,  and  give  motion  to  the  boat.  All  the  power  would  here 
propel  the  boat,  and  th£  continued  action  of  the  vanes  give  the 
advantage  of  accelerated  motion.  It  might  perhaps  be  found 
more  convenient  to  apply  the  force  of  two  sets  of  vanes,  one 
fixed  on  each  side  of  the  boat.  This  might,  without  much  com- 
plexity, be  done. 
12* 


138  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

An  actual  experiment  gave  rise  to  this  idea. 

At  the  time  when  balloons  were  in  vogue  in  France,  and  all 
heads  were  at  work  in  devising  means  to  give  them  motion  ad 
libitum,  an  ingenious  mechanist,  to  the  bow  of  a  common  boat, 
adapted  four  vanes  like  those  of  a  windmill,  but  smaller,  and 
gave  motion  to  them  by  means  of  a  simple  crank.  The  boat 
thus  equipped,  by  the  action  of  the  vanes  in  the  air  crossed  the 
Seine  in  less  time  than  another  crossed  the  same  river  by  means 
of  a  pair  of  common  oars,  and  returned  to  the  place  whence  she 
started,  notwithstanding  the  force  of  the  current. 

Mr.  Latrobe  confirms  this  statement,  that  Franklin 
advocated  the  use  of  a  steam-engine  to  draw  in  and 
eject  water  from  a  boat.  He  made  a  similar  averment 
in  his  report  on  steam-engines,  presented  to  the  Ame- 
rican Philosophical  Society,  in  1803.  Dr.  Franklin 
was  the  chief  among  the  patrons  of  James  Rumsey, 
whose  steam-boat  was,  in  principle,  a  practical  adapta- 
tion of  Franklin's  plan,  using  the  steam  engine  to  do 
the  work  of  pumping  in  and  ejecting  water. 

It  is  a  matter  for  conjecture,  whether  Rumsey  was 
not  altogether  indebted  for  his  idea  of  propulsion  to 
the  paper  of  Dr.  Franklin,  which  was  published  in  the 
Transactions  of  the  Philosophical  Society,  Vol.  II., 
page  294,  which  volume  was  issued  from  the  press 
about  the  beginning  of  July,  1786. 

On  the  20th  of  October,  1785,  Fitch  left  Philadel- 
phia, on  his  way  to  Kentucky.  He  called  upon  Wm. 
Henry  at  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  who  told  him  that 
he  had  himself  thought  of  steam,  as  early  as  1776,  and 
held  some  conversations  with  Andrew  Ellicott  upon  the 
subject,  and  that  Thomas  Paine  had  suggested  it  to 
him  in  1778,  but  that  he  never  did  anything  in  the 
matter,  further  than  drawing  some  plans,  and  inventing 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  139 

a  pattern  of  a  "steam-wheel,"  which  he  showed  Mr. 
Fitch,  and  said  that  as  the  latter  "had  first  published 
the  plan  to  the  world,  he  would  lay  no  claim  to  the  in- 
vention." He  promised  that  he  would  make  a  model 
of  a  steam-wheel,  as  his  visitor  did  not  exactly  under- 
stand how  it  would  work.  This  undertaking  was  never 
fulfilled. 

At  Frcdericktown,  in  Maryland,  Fitch  visited  Thomas 
Johnson,  Ex-Governor  of  Maryland.  It  is  probable 
that  he  there,  for  the  first  time,  learned  that  James 
Rumsey,  of  Virginia,  had,  in  the  previous  year,  made 
some  experiments  with  a  boat  designed  to  move  against 
streams,  by  the  force  of  the  water  acting  on  a  wheel, 
to  which  setting-poles  were  attached.  This  mechan- 
ism, with  some  manual  assistance,  had  been  successfully 
tried.  In  their  conversation,  Fitch  averred  that  Gov. 
Johnson  said  nothing  about  Rumsey's  being  about  to 
employ  steam  for  the  purpose  of  propulsion,  and  he 
was  easy  in  the  belief  that  Rumsey's  plan  was  entirely 
different  from  his  own.  Gov.  Johnson  advised  him  to 
call  on  General  Washington,  on  his  way  to  Richmond ; 
and  accordingly  he  stopped  at  Mount  Vernon. 

Washington  received  him  with  courtesy  and  listened 
to  his  plans,  but  did  not  give  him  the  encouragement 
he  so  much  desired.  Fitch  says,  in  reference  to  this 
great  man,  "  I  believe  that  his  greatest  failure  is  a  too 
great  delicacy  of  his  own  honour,  which  we  hardly  can 
suppose  can  be  carried  to  excess.  The  certificate  which 
he  gave  to  Rumsey's  pole-boat  was,  perhaps,  one  of  the 
most  imprudent  acts  of  his  life."1  The  projector  saw 

1  This  certificate,  dated  September  7th,  1784,  set  forth  that 
according  to  the  experiment  witnessed  by  Washington,  Mr. 


140  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

signs  of  agitation  in  his  countenance,  and  he  asked 
him  if  his  boat  \vas  on  the  same  plan  as  Rumsey's. 
Washington  replied  that  he  could  "not  give  Rumsey's 
plan  by  negatives."  After  this  he  went  out,  and  return- 

Piumsey  had  "  discovered  the  art  of  working  boats  by  mechanism 
and  small  manual  assistance  against  rapid  currents."  In  his 
petition  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  presented  November 
26,  1784,  Rumsey  declared  that  he  proposed  "  to  construct  boats 
of  ten  tons  burthen  each,  which  shall  sail  or  be  propelled  by  the 
combined  influence  of  certain  mechanical  powers  thereto  applied, 
the  distance  of  between  twenty-five  and  forty  miles  a  day,  against 
the  current  of  a  rapid  river,  notwithstanding  the  velocity  of  the 
water  should  move  at  the  rate  of  five  miles  the  hour,  and 
upwards,  with  the  burthen  of  ten  tons  on  board,  to  be  brought 
at  no  greater  expense  than  of  three  hands."  Manuel  Eyre 
afterwards  certified  that  at  the  time  there  was  no  mention,  nor 
any  idea  held  up,  to  the  committee  of  the  Pennsylvania  Legis- 
lature, that  Rumsey's  boat  was  to  be  propelled  by  steam. 

Long  after  the  two  projectors  had  passed  away,  and  when 
their  contests  had  been  forgotten,  the  following  letter  of  General 
Washington  to  Hugh  Williamson,  M.  C.,  was  published.  —  See 
Sparks'  Washington,  Vol.  I.,  page  104.  It  bears  date,  March 
15th  1785,  before  Fitch's  plan  of  a  stejim-boat  was  conceived,  and 
it  gives  Washington's  own  explanation  why  he  gave  the  certifi- 
cate to  Rumsey,  of  1784,  which  was  not  for  a  steam-boat. 

"Mr.  McMeiken's  explanation  of  the  movements  of  Rumsev's 
boat  is  consonant  to  my  ideas,  and  warranted  by  the  principles 
upon  which  it  acts.  The  small  manual  assistance  to  which  I 
alluded,  was  to  be  applied  in  the  water  and  to  the  steerage. 
The  counteraction  being  proportioned  to  the  action,  it  must 
ascend  a  swift  current  faster  than  a  gentle  stream,  and  both  with 
more  ease  than  it  can  move  through  dead  water.  But  in  the 
first  there  may  be,  and  no  doubt  is,  a  point  beyond  which  it 
cannot  go,  without  involving  difficulties  which  may  be  found  in- 
surmountable. Further  than  this  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  explain 
myself,  but  if  a  model,  or  a  thing  in  miniature,  is  a  just  repre- 
sentation of  a  greater  thing  in  practice,  there  is  no  doubt  of  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  141 

ing  after  a  time,  "  told  me,"  says  Fitch,  "  that  it  was 
not  the  same  as  Rumsey  presented  to  him  at  Bath,  but 
that,  sometime  after  that,  at  Richmond,  he  had  men- 
tioned something  of  the  sort  to  him,  but  he  was  so 

utility  of  the  invention.  A  view  of  this  model,  with  the  expla- 
nation, removed  the  principal  doubt  I  ever  had  of  the  practica- 
bility of  propelling  against  a  stream  by  the  aid  of  a  mechanical 
power,  but  as  he  wanted  to  avail  himself  of  my  introduction 
of  it  to  public  attention,  I  chose  previously  to  see  the  actual 
performance  of  the  model  in  a  descending  stream  before  I 
passed  the  certificate,  and,  having  done  so,  all  my  doubts  were 
satisfied." 

General  Washington  was  a  friend  of  Rumsey,  and  he  deemed 
it  prudent  to  inform  him  that  a  new  inventor  was  in  the  field. 
This  letter,  like  the  other  quoted  above,  was  printed  long  after 
the  parties  were  dead  (See  Sparks'  Washington,  Vol.  XII,  page 
279).  In  this  epistle  it  will  be  again  seen  that  the  only  reference 
is  to  a  mechanical  boat.  No  reference  is  made  to  a  steam-boat. 

"  MOUNT  YERNON,  January  31,  1786. 

"SiR:  —  If  you  have  no  cause  to  change  your  opinions 
respecting  your  mechanical  boat,  and  reasons  unknown  to  me  do 
not  exist  to  delay  the  exhibition  of  it,  I  would  advise  you  to  give 
it  to  the  public  as  soon  as  it  can  be  prepared  conveniently.  The 
postponement  creates  distrust  in  the  public  mind,  it  gives  time 
also  for  the  imagination  to  work,  and  this  is  assisted  by  a  little 
dropping  from  one,  and  something  from  another,  to  whom  you 
have  disclosed  the  secret.  Should  a  mechanical  genius  there- 
fore hit  upon  your  plan,  or  something  similar  to  it,  I  need  not 
add  that  it  would  place  you  in  an  awkward  situation,  and  per- 
haps disconcert  all  your  prospects  concerning  this  useful  dis- 
covery, for  you  are  not,  with  your  experience  in  life,  now  to 
learn,  that  the  shoulders  of  the  public  are  too  broad  to  feel  the 
weight  of  the  complaints  of  an  individual,  or  to  regard  promises, 
if  they  find  it  convenient  and  have  the.  shadow  of  plausibility 
on  their  side  to  retract  them.  I  will  inform  you  further  that 
many  people  in  guessing  at  your  plan,  have  come  very  near  the 


142  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

engaged  in  company  that  he  did  not  attend  to  it,  but 
he  made  no  mention  of  Rumsey's  writing  to  him  on 
the  subject."  This  is  the  statement  in  the  MS.  auto- 
biography. In  "The  Original  Steam-boat  Supported," 
Fitch  says,  in  reference  to  this  interview,  that  "Washington 
informed  him  "  that  the  thought  of  applying  steam  was 
not  original,  that  Mr.  Rumsey  had  mentioned  steam  to 
him,"  but  nothing  that  passed  in  the  conversation  with 
General  Washington  had  the  least  tendency  to  convey 
the  idea  of  Mr.  Rumsey's  relying  upon  steam.  *  *  * 
"  Knowing  that  the  thought  of  applying  steam  to  boats 
had  been  suggested  by  other  gentlemen  long  before,  I 
left  his  Excellency,  General  Washington,  with  all  the 
elated  prospects  that  an  aspiring  projector  could  enter- 
tain, not  doubting  but  I  should  reap  the  full  benefit  of 
the  project,  for  although  I  found  that  some  had  con- 
ceived the  thought  before,  yet  I  was  the  first  that  ex- 
hibited a  plan  to  the  public,  and  was  fully  convinced 
that  I  could  not  interfere  with  Mr.  Rumsey,  otherwise 
the  well-known  candor  of  General  Washington  would 
have  pointed  out  such  interference." 

At  Richmond,  Fitch  found  that  his  deeds  were  made 
out  for  his  lands  in  Kentucky,  and  being  infatuated 
with  the  scheme  of  the  steam-boat,  he  was  persuaded 
by  John  Edwards,  a  delegate  in  Congress  from  Ken- 
mark,  and  that  one  who  had  something  of  a  similar  nature  to 
offer  to  the  public,  wanted  a  certificate  from  me  that  it  wag 
different  from  yours.  I  told  him  that  as  I  was  not  at  liberty  to 
declare  what  your  plan  was,  so  I  did  not  think  it  proper  to  say 
what  it  was  not. 

"  Whatever  may  be  your  determination  after  this  hint,  I  have 
only  to  request  that  my  sentiments  on  the  subject  may  be 
ascribed  to  friendly  motives,  and  taken  in  good  part." 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  143 

tucky,  to  petition  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  for 
assistance.  His  memorial  was  presented  by  James 
Madison.  A  committee  was  appointed,  the  members 
of  which  spoke  favorably  to  the  inventor  in  reference 
to  the  subject,  but  made  no  formal  report.  Patrick 
Henry,  who  was  the  Governor  of  Virginia,  was  pleased 
with  the  novelty  of  the  plan,  and  Fitch,  finding  that 
there  was  no  hope  of  legislative  assistance,  conceived 
the  idea  that  he  might  sell  a  sufficient  number  of  copies 
of  his  map  of  the  North- Western  country,  to  raise 
funds  to  enable  him  to  demonstrate  the  practicability 
of  the  scheme.  In  this  over-sanguine. anticipation,  he 
executed  a  bond  on  the  16th  of  November,  to  Governor 
Henry,  in  the  sum  of  X350,  conditioned  that  if  he 
should  sell  one  thousand  copies  of  his  map,  at  6s.  8d. 
each,  he  would  in  nine  months  thereafter,  exhibit  a 
steam-boat  in  the  waters  of  Virginia,  or  forfeit  the 
penalty.  There  was  also  a  provision  in  the  instrument 
that  he  should  produce  one  thousand  copies  of  the  map 
at  Richmond,  before  the  second  Monday  of  November, 
1786.  One  hundred  and  fifteen  subscription  papers 
were  given  out  to  the  members  of  the  Assembly,  and  it 
was  expected  that  they  Avould  return  them  full  of  names, 
but  they  paid  no  attention  to  the  matter,  and  all  that 
was  realized  from  this  plan  was  twenty  subscriptions, 
obtained  by  Mr.  Dunscomb,  of  Richmond,  to  whom 
forty  maps  were  sent,  and  from  whom  eight  crowns 
were  received. 

When  Fitch  entered  into  this  agreement,  he  had  not 
a  sufficient  number  of  maps  ready,  and  he  determined 
to  postpone  his  visit  to  Kentucky,  and  return  to  Bucks 
County  to  print  the  required  number  of  copies.  At 


144  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Fredericktown  he  again  called  on  Governor  Johnson, 
who  urged  him  to  try  -what  he  could  do  in  Maryland. 
There  was  some  conversation  here  about  Eurnsey,  and 
Fitch  declared  that  no  hint  was  given  that  he  intended 
to  use  steam.  Governor  Johnson  took  some  subscrip- 
tion papers  for  the  map,  and  also  gave  him  the  follow- 
ing letter  to  Governor  Smallwood,  of  Maryland. 

"  FREDERICKTOWN,  November  25,  1785. 

"SiR: —  Mr.  John  Fitch,  of  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania, 
called  on  me  in  his  way  to  Richmond.  He  has  gone  through  a 
variety  of  scenes  in  the  back  country,  which  has  enabled  him  to 
collect  a  knowledge  of  a  great  part  of  the  new  States,  on  which 
and  other  helps  he  has  made  a  map,  useful  and  entertaining. 
His  ingenuity  in  this  way  strongly  recommends  him,  but  hia 
genius  is  not  confined  to  this  alone — he  has  spent  much  thought 
on  an  improvement  of  the  steam-engine,  by  which  to  gain  a  first 
power  applicable  to  a  variety  of  uses,  amongst  others  to  force 
vessels  forward  in  any  kind  of  water.1 

"  If  this  engine  can  be  simplified,  constructed,  and  made  to 
work  at  a  small  expence,  there  is  no  doubt  but  it  will  be  very 
useful  in  most  great  works,  amongst  them,  in  ship-building. 

"Mr.  Fitch  wants  to  raise  money  to  make  an  experiment  on 
boats.  The  countenance  he  has  met  with  in  Virginia,  he  hopes 
will  enable  him  to  do  it.  He  wishes  also  to  make  other  experi- 
ments, and  is  willing  to  enter  into  engagements  to  apply  a  large 
proportion  of  the  sales  of  his  maps  to  his  principal  fund.  I  be- 
lieve his  passion  for  the  improvement  will  be  ample  security  for 
his  applying  the  money  in  that  way.  All  that  I  have  to  request 
of  you,  sir,  is,  that  you  give  him  an  opportunity  to  converse 

1  Fitch,  with  good  reason,  believed  this  peculiar  phrase  was 
used  to  distinguish  his  boat  from  Rumsey's,  which  could  only 
go  against  the  current. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  145 

with  you,  you  will  soon  perceive  that  he  is  a  man  of  real  genius 
and  modesty.     Your  countenancing  him  will  follow  of  course. 
"  I  am,  sir, 

"  Your  Excy's 

"  Most  obed.  and  most  H'ble  serv't, 

"  TH.  JOHNSON. 
"  To  His  EXCELLENCY, 

"GOVERNOR  SMALLWOOD." 

From  Fredericktown  Fitch  repaired  to  Philadelphia, 
•where  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  was  in  session. 
He  there  presented  a  petition  for  assistance.  The 
committee  to  whom  it  was  referred,  made  a  flattering 
verbal  report,  but  there  was  no  definite  action.  Leaving 
that  application  to  its  fate,  he  set  out  for  Annapolis, 
Maryland,  where  he  arrived  in  the  latter  part  of 
December.  Governor  Johnson's  letter  was  delivered, 
arid  the  matter  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Assem- 
bly. Here  he  ventured  to  petition  for  money  to  procure 
an  engine  from  Europe,  to  be  expended  under  the 
direction  of  Andrew  Ellicott.  On  the  9th  of  January, 
1786,  three  days  after  the  memorial  was  received,  the 
committee  reported  as  follows  :  —  "  However  desirous 
it  is  for  liberal  and  enlightened  Legislators  to  encourage 
useful  arts,  yet  the  state  and  condition  of  our  finances 
are  such  that  there  can  be  no  advance  of  public  money 
at  present."  About  the  same  time  he  prepared  the 
following  advertisement,  which  is  to  be  found  in  the 
Maryland  Gazette  of  January  6,  1786. 

TO   THE    ENCOURAGEMENT    OF    USEFUL   ARTS. 

The  subscriber  humbly  begs  leave  to  inform  the  public,  that 
he  has  proposed  a  Machine  for  the  improvement  of  NAVIGA- 
TION, with  other  useful  ARTS — that  it  has  been  honored  with  the 
approbation  of  many  men  of  the  first  characters  for  philosophi- 
cal and  mechanical  knowledge,  in  each  of  the  middle  States  — 

13 


146  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

that  he  has  laid  it  before  the  honorable  assembly  of  Pennsylva- 
nia now  sitting,  whose  committee  have  been  pleased  to  make  a 
very  favorable  report  on  the  subject.  The  result  has  been  that 
a  number  of  Gentlemen  of  character  and  influence,  have  under- 
taken to  promote  subscription  for  his  Map  of  the  New  part  of 
the  United  States,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  make  a  full  experi- 
ment of  said  Machine.  He  flatters  himself,  the  Subscribers  will 
think  the  Maps  well  worth  the  money,  yet  he  pledges  himself  to 
employ  one-half  the  money  contributed  in  constructing  and 
bringing  to  perfection  a  machine  that  promises  to  be  of  infinite 
advantage  to  the  United  States. 
Dec.  20,  1785.  JOHN  FITCH. 

The  subscriber  is  of  opinion  that  said  machine  will  be  able  to 
make  head  against  the  most  violent  tempest,  and  at  any  time 
ware  a  vessel  off  from  a  lee  shore ;  and  that  the  same  force  may 
be  applied  to  free  a  leaky  ship  of  her  water,  and  that  it  will 
produce  a  constant  supply  of  fresh  water,  and  beside  the  above 
mentioned  conveniences,  he  believes  it  will  shorten  voyages  very 
considerable:  He  therefore  flatters  himself  that  few  gentlemen 
•would  think  much  of  contributing  towards  an  experiment  so 
well  supported  by  such  numbers  of  characters,  in  each  of  the  mid- 
dle states,  as  he  does  not  ask  their  aid  without  full  compensation. 

N.  B. —  The  following  opinion  was  given  to  said  Fitch,  and 
subscribed  by  a  number  of  gentlemen,  whose  names  would  do 
honor  to  any  projection  in  Philosophy  or  mechanism  : 

Upon  considering  the  extent  of  the  principles  on  which  Mr. 
Fitch  proposes  to  construct  his  steam-boat,  and  the  quantity  of 
motion  that  may  be  produced  by  the  elastic  force  of  steam,  we 
are  of  opinion  that  if  the  execution  could  by  any  means  be 
made  to  answer  the  theory  when  reduced  to  practice,  it  might 
be  beneficial  to  the  public,  and  it  seems  to  be  deserving  of  a  fair 
experiment,  which  alone  can  justify  the  expectation  of  success. 

Subscriptions  taken  in  by  the  Printer  hereof  and  Messrs. 
Spotswood  &  Clarke,  Booksellers  and  Stationers  in  Market 
Street. 

Returning  from  Maryland,  he  stopped  at  Dover,  in 
Delaware,  where  the  Legislature  of  the  latter  State 
was  in  session.  He  did  not  present  a  memorial  to  that 
body,  but  conversed  generally  with  the  members,  in 
reference  to  his  plans.  Without  receiving  such  encour- 
agement as  made  him  sanguine  of  obtaining  aid  from 
that  quarter,  he  returned  to  Philadelphia.  Anxious 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  147 

to  have  the  patronage  of  so  influential  a  man  as  Dr. 
Franklin,  he  again  waited  upon  him  and  requested  his 
good  offices.  He  asked  him  for  a  certificate  of  the 
merits  of  his  invention,  but  the  wily  philosopher  evaded 
a  compliance,  whilst  he  spoke  in  a  very  complimentary 
manner  of  the  plan.  Finally,  he  asked  Fitch  to  corne 
into  the  next  room,  where  he  opened  a  desk  and  took 
from  it  five  or  six  dollars,  which  he  offered  to  the  pro- 
jector. The  latter  was  highly  offended  at  this  mode 
of  giving  him  alms.  He  refused  the  money,  except  as 
a  subscription  to  the  boat,  which  Franklin  refused  to 
make.  He  afterwards  wrote,  in  referring  to  this  inter- 
view, 'kl  esteem  it  one  of  the  most  imprudent  acts  of 
my  life,  that  I  had  not  treated  the  insult  with  the  in- 
dignity which  he  merited,  and  stomped  the  poltry  Ore 
under  my  feet."  Greatly  incensed,  he  withdrew  and 
directed  his  course  to  his  home  in  Bucks  County. 


148  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE   STEAM-BOAT   COMPANY  —  fHE    SKIFF    STEAM-BOAT, 

1786. 

IT  was  impossible  for  the  ardent  enthusiast  to  remain 
long  at  home,  and  in  a  short  time  he  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia, in  the  hope  of  gaining  assistance.  Arthur 
Donaldson,  a  citizen,  had  at  that  time  considerable 
reputation  as  a  person  of  ingenuity,  and  was  possessed 
of  means.  He  had  been  one  of  the  contractors  to  re- 
move from  the  Delaware  river  chevaux  defrise,  placed 
there  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  which  task  was 
executed  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public.  He  had 
also  invented  a  machine  for  cleaning  out  docks,  which 
he  called  "the  Hippopotamus,'*  and  had  been  granted 
special  privileges  in  the  invention,  for  a  term  of  years, 
by  the  Assembly  of  the  State.  To  this  person  Fitch 
applied,  in  the  hope  of  assistance,  and  requested  him 
to  join  him  as  partner.  Donaldson  seemed  enamoured 
of  the  scheme.  "  It  did  not  appear,"  says  Fitch,  "  that 
he  had  ever  thought  of  it,  from  his  discourse  with  me," 
although  the  plan  of  the  steam-boat  had  been  before 
the  Assembly  of  the  State  two  months  previously. 
Donaldson  did  not  finally  decide  upon  the  subject,  but 
said  he  would  consult  with  Levi  Hollingsworth,  before 
giving  an  answer.  This  interview  took  place  on  the 
4th  of  February,  1786. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  149 

The  Assembly  of  New  Jersey  was  in  session  at  this 
time,  and  Fitch  repaired  to  Trenton  with  the  hope  of 
accomplishing  something  by  the  assistance  of  that  body. 
A  law  to  provide  for  the  emission  of  paper  money  had 
just  been  passed,  and  as  the  funded  certificates  were 
only  worth  five  shillings  in  the  pound,  according  to 
the  market  value,  although  interest  at  par  was  paid 
upon  them,  it  was  hoped  by  the  friends  of  the  steam- 
boat that  some  scheme  might  be  perfected  to  obtain  the 
assistance  of  the  State.  The  plan  was,  to  induce  the 
the  Legislature  to  pass  a  law,  appropriating  certificates 
to  the  value  of  XI 000,  for  the  encouragement  of  the 
steam-boat.  Stacy  Potts,  an  intelligent  citizen  of 
Trenton,  lent  his  aid  to  the  scheme.  It  was  argued, 
that  thereby  the  State  would  save  the  payment  of  the 
interest  upon  the  certificates,  which  would  have  to  be 
liquidated  if  they  were  in  the  hands  of  other  holders, 
beside  which,  there  was  the  chance  of  a  return  of  the 
whole  sum  in  specie,  or  its  equivalent,  if  the  steam-boat 
should  succeed.  The  proposition  met  with  a  number 
of  advocates,  but  it  was  opposed  by  Mr.  Clerk,  a  lead- 
ing member,  whose  influence  was  very  considerable,  and 
the  bill  was  lost. 

Baffled  in  this  endeavor,  Fitch  returned  to  Bucks 
County.  Whilst  there,  he  heard  from  an  old  woman 
who  had  lately  been  to  Philadelphia  and  nursed  an  ac- 
quaintance of  Arthur  Donaldson,  that  there  was  much 
conversation  in  the  family  about  the  wonderful  inven- 
tion of  a  steam-boat  which  had  been  made  by  Mr. 
Donaldson,  and  it  was  said  that  he  intended  to  apply 
to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  for  an  exclusive 
right  to  the  machine.  Alarmed  at  this  intelligence,  he 
13* 


150  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

hastened  to  the  city,  and  visited  Mr.  Donaldson,  who 
acknowledged  that  he  had  invented  such  an  improve- 
ment, and  intended  to  apply  for  an  exclusive  privilege 
to  use  it.  It  appeared  that  Mr.  Donaldson  had  either 
hit  upon  or  had  been  informed  of  the  method  of  suck- 
ing in  and  voiding  water  through  a  tube,  suggested 
by  Dr.  Franklin  to  the  Philosophical  Sogiety,  and 
which  was  a  modification  of  the  idea  of  Bernouilli. 
Donaldson  declared  that  he  had  a  right  to  the  sole 
ownership  of  any  method  of  propulsion  by  steam;  which 
differed  from  the  plan  of  Fitch,  which  was  a  paddle- 
wheel  or  the  endless  chain  of  paddles.  Fitch,  on  the 
contrary,  maintained  that  the  force  and  power  which 
was  applied  to  navigation  was  the  great  principle  of  the 
invention,  and  that  the  method  by  which  that  power 
was  rendered  available,  Avas  an  immaterial  matter. 

Determined  not  to  be  supplanted  in  his  claim  by 
means  which  he  considered  unfair,  he  immediately  pte- 
sented  a  petition  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
for  an  exclusive  right  to  the  propulsion  of  vessels  "  by 
fire  and  steam."  This  memorial  was  presented  on  the 
llth  of  March.  The  next  day  Donaldson's  memorial, 
claiming  like  privileges,  for  his  method  of  navigation, 
was  also  laid  before  the  Assembly. 

Leaving  the  matter  thus,  Fitch  immediately  set  out 
to  Trenton,  where  he  petitioned  the  Legislature  of  New 
Jersey  for  a  special  law,  fortifying  his  application  by 
the  following  recommendation  : 

We,  the  subscribers,  have  examined  the  principles  of  the 
steam-boat  constructed  by  John  Fitch,  and  are  of  opinion  that 
it  may  be  the  means  of  improveing  the  navigation  of  these  States 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  151 

to  great  advantage,  and  therefore   deserves  the  protection  and 

encouragement  of  the  Legislature. 

ISAAC  SMITH,  SAMUEL  TUCKER, 

JOHN  Cox,  RANSOLER  WILLIAMS, 

SAMUEL  STOCKTON,  JOHN  STEVENS,  JUN., 

WM.  C.  HOUSTON,  WILLIAM  McBEN, 

ROBERT  PERSON,  JUN'R,  ABM.  HUNT, 

STACY  POTTS,  THOS.  YARD, 

'    JOHN  CLUNN,  CHAS.  CLUNN. 

This  measure  was  successful.  In  three  days  the  law 
was  passed.  It  bears  date  March  18th,  1786,  and  se- 
cured to  John  Fitch  for  fourteen  years  "  The  sole  and. 
exclusive  right  of  constructing,  making,  using  and  em- 
ploying, or  navigating,  all  and  every  species  or  kinds 
of  boats,  or  water  craft,  which  might  be  urged  or  im- 
pelled by  the  force  of  fire  or  steam,  in  all  the  creeks, 
rivers,  &c.,  within  the  territory  or  jurisdiction  of  this 
State." 

Returning  to  Philadelphia,  Fitch  prepared  another 
petition  to  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  he 
set  forth  the  circumstances  attending  his  first  idea  of 
the  invention,  and  produced  the  certificates  of  Rev. 
Nathaniel  Irwin,  Abraham  Lukens,  Seneca  Lukens, 
Daniel  Longstreth,  James  Scout,  and  John  Folwell,  of 
Bucks  County,  that  as  early  as  June,  1785,  he  had 
told  them,  that  he  had  invented  a  machine  for  working 
a  boat  by  steam,  and  had  shown  them  drafts  of  it.  He 
stated  what  his  proceedings  had  been  in  Virginia,  and 
referred  to  the  bond  given  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry.  He 
then  offered  to  prove  by  Mr.  Burrows  that  he,  himself, 
had  first  informed  Donaldson  of  the  invention  of  the 
steam-boat,  and  described  the  force  and  power,  and 
that  Donaldson  did  not  at  that  time  say  that  he  had 


152  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ever  thought  of  such  a  means  of  propulsion.  Refer- 
ring, also,  to  the  law  lately  passed  in  New  Jersey,  he 
prayed  for  an  investigation  into  the  truth  of  his  alle- 
gations. The  conflicting  claims  on  the  23d  of  March 
•were  referred  to  a  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Clymer,  Rittenhouse,  Gray,  Whitehill,  and  Irvine,  who 
deferred  any  action  upon  them  until  the  next  session. 
The  formation  of  a  company,  to  assist  in  the  necessary 
experiments  by  the  advancement  of  money,  was  now 
the  principal  thought  of  this  persevering  man.  He 
came  to  Philadelphia  for  that  purpose  on  the  17th  of 
April,  and  in  one  week  had  obtained  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  subscribers.  The  number  of  shares  was  to  be 
forty,  of  which  Fitch  was,  for  his  merit  as  original  in- 
ventor, and  for  his  subsequent  labor,  to  have  one-half. 
No  particular  amount  was  settled  upon  as  the  limit  to 
be  paid  on  each  share.  The  subscribers  very  generally 
made  a  payment  of  twenty  dollars  per  share,  and  with 
a  sum  exceeding  three  hundred  dollars  the  experiments 
were  commenced.  The  first  great  difficulty  was  the 
making  of  a  steam-engine,  a  piece  of  machinery  which 
the  mechanical  capability  of  the  country  was  scarcely 
able  to  furnish.  John  Nancarrow,  of  Philadelphia, 
the  proprietor  of  a  steel  furnace,  was  employed  for  the 
purpose  of  constructing  this  important  agent  for  the 
future  working  of  the  experiment.  He  delayed  the 
impatient  projector  very  much,  but  in  thirty  days  he 
produced  his  drafts,  which  were  such  as  Fitch  could 
not  approve.  "  It  was  to  work  upon  the  old-fashioned 
plan  of  engine  [atmospheric,  it  is  presumed],  and  was 
to  have  a  weight  to  raise  the  piston."  Although  Nan- 
carrow had  considerable  reputation,  and  the  steam-boat 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  153 

projector  had  none,  he  stood  out  stoutly  against  the 
design,  and  succeeded  in  persuading  the  company  to 
reject  it.  Propositions  were  then  made,  that  the  in- 
ventor should  proceed  to  New  York,  to  procure  the  aid 
of  Mr.  Hornblower,1  or  Christopher  Colles,  an  ingeni- 
ous and  scientific  Irishman,  whose  learning  and  skill 
in  machinery,  and  particularly  steam  machinery,  were 
widely  known  and  respected  throughout  the  States.2 

1  There  were  at  that  time  but  three  steam-engines  in  operation 
in  America.     Two  were  in  New  England,  and  had  been  imported 
from  England  forty  years  before  the  Revolutionary  war.     There 
was  one  at  the  Schuyler  copper-mine,  Passaic,  N.  J.,  which  had 
also  been  imported  from  England  in  parts,  which  had  been  put 
up  by  Mr.  Hornblower.     This  had  been  in  use  for  thirty  years. 
Hornblower's  success  in  that  work  naturally  suggested  him  as 
a  proper  person  to  make  the  engine  for  the  steam-boat,     All 
those  engines  were  on  the  atmospheric  plan. 

2  The   career  of  Christopher  Colles  was  in  many  particulars 
like  that  of  John  Fitch.     Both  were  ingenious  beyond  the  great 
majority  of  the  people  of  their  time,  and  both  reaped  a  reward 
in  poverty.     Colles  deserves  mention  here,  as  the  first  man,  it  is 
believed,  who  constructed  a  steam-engine  in  America.     Born  in 
Ireland,  Colles  became  in  youth  a  proteg6  of  the  learned  Rich- 
ard Pococke,  bishop  of  Ossory.     By  the  latter  the  youth  was 
educated  in  the  languages,  mathematics,  and  physical  sciences. 
After  the  death  of  Bishop  Ossory,  in  17G5,  Colles  left  his  native 
land.     In  March,  1772,  he  was  at  Philadelphia,  delivering  lec- 
tures at  the  hall  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  South 
Second  street,  "  upon  Pneumaticks,  illustrated  by  a  variety  of 
curious  and  entertaining  experiments  in  an  air-pump  lately  in- 
vented by  him."     Tickets  were  5s.  for  the  course.     In  his  an- 
nouncement he  requested  patronage  for  a  more  important  series 
of  lectures,  in  the  following  language  :  "  The  said  Colles,  if 
thereto  encouraged,  proposes  to  deliver  a  course  consisting  of  at 
least  three  lectures,  upon  the  practice  as  well  as  theory  of  Hy- 
drostatics and  Hydraulics.     In  these  Lectures  will  be  explained 


154  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Whilst  this  matter  was  under  consideration,  Fitch  be- 
came acquainted  with  Henry  Voight,  a  watchmaker, 
with  whose  ingenuity  he  became  very  much  impressed. 
After  three  or  four  conversations  with  him,  he  felt  confi- 

the  gravity,  pressure,  and  motion  of  fluids,  with  their  action 
upon  different  machines,  as  wind  and  water  mills,  various  kinds 
of  pumps,  the  centrifugal  and  steam-engines,  and  other  machines 
for  raising  water  for  different  purposes,  by  different  powers,  to 
the  greatest  advantage,  —  and  as  said  COLLES  has  been  engaged 
as  principal  director  in  some  inland  navigations,  and  other  works 
of  that  nature,  and  made  these  branches  his  particular  study, 
he  also  intends  to  explain  the  principal  parts  of  Hydraulic 
architecture,  as  canals,  locks,  aqueducts,  &c.  The  whole  to  be 
elucidated  by  working  models  of  several  engines,  &  more  imme- 
diately adapted  to  point  out  the  defects  and  improvements  of 
these  works,  and  for  the  consideration  of  the  artificers  concerned 
therein :  beside  the  apparatus  commonly  exhibited  at  Hydro- 
statical  lectures,  the  following  will  be  shown,  viz. :  — 

The  steam-engine, 

The  Centrifugal  engine, 

Model  of  a  wind-mill  with  different  kinds  of  sails, 

Model  of  an  overshot  and  undershot  water-mill, 

Model  of  a  piece  of  a  canal,  with  locks,  aqueducts,  and  other 
appendages  belonging  to  inland  navigation. 

As  the  preparation  of  a  sufficient  apparatus  to  exhibit  these 
lectures  will  be  attended  with  great  expense,  the  said  Colles  ex- 
pects on  this  occasion  a  particular  encouragement  of  his  friends 
and  the  public,  by  taking  at  least  100  tickets  at  One  Dollar  each, 
and  as  soon  as  so  many  tickets  are  disposed  of,  he  will  prepare 
the  apparatus  with  all  speed." 

On  the  22d  of  June  he  advertised  that  the  lectures  would 
commence  in  a  fortnight,  the  illustrations  being  much  more  ex- 
tensive than  was  at  first  intended. 

The  consequence  of  these  lectures  was,  that  Colles  undertook 
to  build  a  steam-engine  for  a  distilfery  in  Philadelphia.  He 
succeeded  to  a  certain  extent,  but  the  machine  was  too  defective 
to  be  useful,  and  the  poor  philosopher  was  forced  to  seek  a 


155 

dent  that  it  would  be  unnecessary  to  go  to  New  York, 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  plans  for  a  steam-engine, 
but  that  the  man  to  construct  it  was  to  be  found  nearer. 
Voight  took  an  interest  in  the  scheme,  and  made  such 
sensible  suggestions,  that  Fitch  desired  no  better  as- 
public  subscription  to  recompense  him  for  his  outlay.  In  pur- 
suance of  this  design,  he  prepared  the  following  petition : 
"  To  THE  AMERICAN  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETY  for  Promoting  useful 

Knowledge,  held  at  Philadelphia. 
"  GENTLEMEN*  : 

"  As  your  society  seems  particularly  calculated  to  forward  all 
useful  undertakings,  I  beg  leave  to  address  myself  to  you  on  the 
following  subject : 

"  I  have  a  long  time  been  of  opinion  that^re  might  be  advan- 
tageously employed  as  a  power,  to  work  a  variety  of  mechanical 
engines,  and  machines,  and  previous  to  my  trying  any  thing 
new  in  that  way,  I  have  erected  one  very  little  differing  from 
the  common  construction,  for  raising  water  for  a  distillery,  & 
having  tried  a  variety  of  experiments  in  order  to  bring  the  ex- 
pence  into  a  narrow  compass,  do  find  that  the  form  &  dimensions 
of  the  boiler  are  not  sufficient  to  furnish  a  proper  quantity  of 
steam  to  make  it  operate  with  the  necessary  velocity,  &  as  the 
expence  has  exceeded  my  expectation  and  ability,  I  propose  mak- 
ing application  to  the  public  by  way  of  subscription,  for  to  reim- 
burse what  I  have  already  expended,  &  to  enable  me  to  complete 
my  design.  But  as  all  persons  are  not  competent  judges  of  the 
nature  &  utility  of  such  contrivances,  I  request  the  favour  of  the 
Society,  that  such  gentlemen  of  their  body  as  they  shall  think 
convenient,  may  look  at  the  machine  and  report  their  opinion 
thereof,  which  will  enable  the  subscription  to  go  on  with  the 
greater  facility,  &  much  oblige 

"  Their  most  h'ble  serv't, 

"  CHRISTOPHER  COLLES. 

"Philadelphia,  20  August,  1773." 

The  Society  appointed  a  committee,  as  requested,  who  made 
the  following  report : 


156  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

sistant.  He  offered  him  a  share  in  the  Company,  if 
he  would  aid  him,  to  which  the  watch-maker  assented. 
Some  years  afterward,  Fitch  recorded  his  .opinions  of 
his  coadjutor  in  this  manner : 

"AUGUST  25th,  1773. 

"Agreeably  to  the  direction  of  the  Society,  the  Committee 
went  to  view  the  Steam-Engine  erected  by  Christopher  Collea 
in  this  city,  which  they  saw  perform  several  strokes  (tho'  some 
of  the  materials  not  being  sufficiently  large  and  strong,  owing 
to  his  attempting  the  execution  at  a  very  low  expence),  it  did  not 
continue  in  motion  long :  but  that  a  steam-engine  may  be 
brought  to  answer  the  purpose  of  raising  water,  much  cheaper 
than  by  men  or  horses,  is  a  fact  well  known,  and  we  are  of 
opinion  that  the  undertaker  is  well  acquainted  with  the  princi- 
ples of  this  particular  branch  of  mechanics,  &  very  capable  of 
carrying  it  into  execution,  and  therefore  worthy  of  publick  en- 
couragement. DAVID  RITTENHOUSE, 

OWEN  BIDDLE, 
RICHARD  WELLS." 

The  Society  received  the  report,  with  the  cautious  direction — 
"a  copy  of  which  may  be  given  him  by  the  secretaries,  for  to 
encourage  the  Public  to  contribute  toward  the  expence  of  making 
it,  provided  he  don't  print  the  sd  report." 

In  1773  Colles  was  in  New  York,  -where  he  lectured  upon 
lock  navigation,  steam-engines,  &c.  He  realized  but  little  from 
this  source,  and  was  compelled  to  eke  out  means  of  subsistence 
by  making  band-boxes.  In  1775  he  encouraged  the  warlike 
American  spirit  by  giving  lessons  in  gunnery.  During  the  war, 
he  manufactured  Prussian  blue,  and  other  pigments,  and  made 
astronomical  calculations  for  almanacs.  Before  the  Revolution 
was  over,  he  penetrated  the  wild  country  about  the  Mohawk 
river,  examined  the  obstructions  of  that  stream,  and,  returning  to 
New  York,  published,  in  1785,  his  opinions  in  favor  of  a  system 
of  canal  navigation,  such  as  was  afterward  perfected  by  DeWitt 
Clinton.  He  was  among  those  seeking  the  contract  to  convey 
water  into  New  York  in  1797.  In  1807  he  published  another 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  157 

"  Mr.  Voight  is  a  Plain  Dutchman,  who  fears  no  man,  and 
•will  always  speak  his  sentiments,  which  has  given  offence  to 
some  of  the  Members  of  our  Co.,  and  some  of  them  have  effec- 
ted to  have  a  contemptable  an  opinion  of  his  Philosophic  abili- 
ties. It  is  true  he  is  not  a  man  of  Letters,  nor  mathematical 
Knowledge,  but  for  my  own  part,  I  would  depend  on  him  more 
thnn  a  Franklin,  a  Rittenhouse,  an  Ellicot,  a  Nuncarrow,  and 
Matlack,  all  combined,  as  he  is  a  man  of  superior  Mechanical 
abilities,  and  Very  considerable  Natural  Philosophy;  and  as  we 
have  many  of  the  first  Geniuses  in  our  Co.,  perhaps  nearly  equal 
to  those  I  have  mentioned,  it  is  Certain  that  he  has  pointed  out 
more  defects  than  them  all,  and  pointed  out  ways  to  remedy 
those  defects,  when  consternation  sat  silent  in  every  brest  for 
the  disaster." 

Deferring  to  the  scientific  authority  of  Dr.  Franklin, 
Fitch  seems  to  have  determined  to  build  his  boat  so 
as  to  suck  in  and  eject  water,  and  the  hull  was  ordered 
to  be  built  on  that  plan,  but  Voight  soon  induced  him 
to  give  up  that  design. 

The  first  suggestion  made  by  the  new  colleague  was, 
that  a  working  model  of  a  steam-engine  should  be 

pamphlet,  proposing  a  system  of  inland  canals.  This  activity 
for  the  public  good  met  with  but  poor  encouragement.  At 
times  Colles  delivered  itinerant  lectures  on  electricity,  and  other 
sciences.  He  occasionally  made  proof  glasses  to  test  the  spe- 
cific gravity  of  spirits.  Subsequently  receiving  a  situation  as 
superintendent  or  janitor  of  the  American  Academy  of  Fine 
Arts  at  New  York,  he  increased  his  gains  by  exhibitions  of  the 
microscope  and  telescope,  "and  the  size  of  the  head  of  cabbage 
he  brought  home  from  market  [says  Dr.  J.  W.  Francis]  was 
diagnostic  of  the  receipts  of  the  previous  24  hours."  The  same 
authority  says,  "  He  was  retiring,  religious,  modest,  and  tole- 
rant. Jarvis,  the  painter,  pronounced  him  a  genius,  and  painted 
his  portrait.  In  the  celebration  of  1825,  when  the  waters  of  Lake 
Erie  were  joined  to  those  of  the  Atlantic,  his  effigies  were  borne 
with  honour."  He  died  in  1821,  aged  eighty-four  years. 

14 


158  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

made.  They  accordingly  commenced  a  small  one,  the 
cylinder  being  only  of  one  inch  diameter,  which  when 
completed  would  not  work  regularly,  the  force  not 
being  sufficient  to  overcome  the  friction.  The  expense 
was  but  trifling,  being  £3  Pennsylvania  currency.1  It 
was  the  first  steam-engine  of  any  kind  that  Fitch  had 
ever  seen,  and  although  he  had  for  so  long  a  time  in- 
dulged an  enthusiastic  opinion  of  the  wonderfully  elas- 
tic powers  of  the  vapor,  we  can  easily  imagine  his  joy 
when  he  saw  his  ideas  practically  although  imperfectly 
demonstrated. 

Immediate  attention  was  given  to  the  preparation  of 
a  new  model,  with  a  three-inch  cylinder.  At  the  same 
time  a  small  skiff  was  prepared,  "in  order  to  try  the 
effect  of  the  propelling  apparatus  by  hand." 

The  following  letter  in  relation  to  the  hopes  enter- 
tained of  the  experiment  about  this  time,  was  written 
to  Stacy  Potts,  of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  who  was  then  a 
shareholder  in  the  company : 

PHILADELPHIA,  13  July,  1786. 

SIR  —  We  have  not  got  our  engine  to  work  yet,  owing  to  the 
pumps  for  the  injection  water  which  we  have  had  to  make  over 
new,  yet  see  no  reason  why  we  should  not  get  it  to  work  in  3  or 
four  days ;  our  machinery  is  nearly  compleat  for  trying  the 
Boat,  which  we  shall  do  next  week  by  hand ;  when  we  can 
nearly  assertain  what  effect  it  will  have  when  the  engine  is  put 
to  it ;  I  hope. in  a  short  time  to  be  able  to  inform  you  what  suc- 
cess we  are  like  to  meet  with,  when  these  experiments  are  made  ; 
•we  shall  have  about  £100  to  make  the  experiment  with,  but  be- 
lieve if  this  engine  works  well  it  will  sell  for  nearly  as  much  ag 

1  The  Pennsylvania  currency  was  7s.  6d.  to  the  dollar.  When- 
ever pounds,  shillings  or  pence  are  spoken  of  in  this  book,  they 
must  be  understood  to  be  according  to  Pennsylvania  currency. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  159 

wo  have  expended,  which  may  put  us  on  our  former  footing. 
Sir,  I  would  not  sent  an  order  for  the  three  dollars,  but  out  of 
necessity  which  obliges  mo  to  make  it,  my  expectations  are 
daly  increasing  as  to  the  success  of  our  undertaking,  and  dout 
not  but  it  will  be  a  matter  of  the  first  magnitude  to  the  World. 
With  the  most  Perfect  Respect  I  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself 
Your  Most  devoted 

and  humble  servant 

JOHN  FITCH. 
MR.  STACY  POTTS. 

Voight  and  Fitch  tried  experiments  on  the  skiff  with 
"a  screw  of  paddles,"  the  endless  chain,  and  one  or 
two  other  modes,  "which  did  not  answer  their  expecta- 
tions." These  trials  probably  took  place  about  the  20th 
of  July,  1786,  and  they  were  witnessed  by  several  per- 
sons who,  expecting  a  better  result,  "jeered  and 
scoffed"  at  Fitch  smd  Voight  when  they  came  on  shore. 
Much  disheartened,  the  inventor  went  off  to  a  tavern, 
mid  in  his  journal  he  says  that  he  "used  considerable 
West  India  produce  that  evening."  The  next  day  he 
felt  very  much  ashamed  of  himself,  and  in  the  evening 
he  went  to  bed  at  an  early  hour,  but  not  to  sleep, 
In  narrating  his  thoughts  at  this  time  he  says,  "About 
twelve  o'clock  at  night  the  idea  struck  me  about  cranks 
and  paddles  for  rowing  of  a  boat,  and  after  considering 
it  some  time,  was  sure  it  would  be  the  best  way  that  a 
vessel  could  be  propelled  by  oars."  At  length  he  became 
so  uneasy,  for  fear  that  he  should  forget,  or  lose  the 
idea,  that  he  got  up  about  one  o'clock,  struck  a  light, 
and  drew  a  plan,  at  which  he  was  delighted.  He  was 
BO  excited  that  it  was  altogether  impossible  for  him  to 
sleep.  At  sunrise  he  sought  the  residence  of  Voight, 
and  showed  him  the  draft.  It  gave  them  much  en- 


160  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

couragement,  and  they  at  once  determined  to  get  a 
small  crank  in  order  to  try  the  invention  in  the  skiff. 
The  working  of  the  oars  was  perfect,  and  the  success 
of  this  method  of  propulsion  gave  them  fresh  spirits. 
The  first  plan  was  improved  by  a  suggestion  of  Voight. 
Fitch  had  proposed  that  the  oars  should  run  through 
holes  in  a  stationary  frame-work,  which  produced  much 
friction  and  noise.  In  place  of  this  method,  Voight 
proposed  that  the  oars  should  be  attached  to  arms, 
which  obviated  the  specified  objection.  The  engine 
now  seems  to  have  been  completed,  and  being  placed 
in  the  boat,  it  was  attached  to  the  new  working  oars. 
The  result  is  thus  told  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Potts : 

PHILADELPHIA,  28  July,  1786. 

MY  WORTHY  FRIEND  —  This  may  inform  you  that  I  have  com- 
pleted my  experiments  yesterday  and  find  that  they  exceed  my 
most  sanguine  expectations,  we  let  out  7  knot  of  Log  line  and 
had  not  more  than  half  of  the  Purchase  that  we  shall  have  on  a 
Large  Boat;  we  have  now  tried  every  grot  and  reduced  it  as 
certain  as  any  thing  can  be  that  we  shall  not  come  short  of  10 
miles  per  Hour,  if  not  12  or  14  —  I  will  say  fourteen  in  Theory, 
and  Ten  in  practise  —  the  company  is  to  meet  tomorrow  Eve- 
ning, and  I  doubt  not  they  will  Pursue  it  on  a  larger  scale  and 
make  a  Boat  of  20  Tons  Burthen,  and  a  12  Inch  Cylinder. 

I  have  lately  invented  an  easy,  simple  and  practicable  way 
of  rowing  a  Boat,  applicable  for  an  Engine,  where  1  am  per- 
fcuaded  that  the  strength  of  two  men  will  do  the  work  of  three, 
at  any  rate  with  one  man  in  our  Boat  we  fear  no  one  man  going 
before  us,  notwithstanding  our  oars  are  not  properly  adjusted. 
I  shall  do  myself  the  pleasure  of  letting  you  hear  from  time  to 
time  how  we  proceed,  and  expect  there  will  be  Greater  advances 
of  Money  called  for  as  there  is  upward  of  £60  of  the  money 
expended. 

I  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself  Your  Ever  Faithful  Friend 
and  Humble  Servt  JOHN  FITCH. 

MR.  STACY  POTTS. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  161 

Speaking  of  his  success,  lie  says  of  the  model,  "  It 
fully  convinced  me  that  the  steam-engine  might  be 
worked  both  ways  as  well  as  one."  His  letter  of  con- 
gratulation to  Mr.  Potts  was  followed  by  a  reply  from 
the  latter,  which  showed  that  already  one  patron  was 
lost.  It  was  in  these  words  : 

TRENTON,  Sept.  2d,  1786. 

FRIEND  FITCH  —  It  affords  me  great  satisfaction  to  find  that 
the  invention  of  the  Stearn-Boat  is  likely,  now,  to  be  applyed  to 
useful  and  valuable  purposes,  to  the  benefit  and  advantage  of 
mankind  in  general,  and  the  emolument  and  aggrandizement 
of  the  Proprietors  in  particular ;  and  I  shall  reflect  with  plea- 
sure on  the  encouragement  I  have  given,  and  the  ardent  wishes 
I  have  entertained  for  its  success  :  But  as  it  has  now  become  a 
matter  of  property,  is  likely  to  be  lucrative  and  interesting  to 
the  sharers,  and  may  soon  be  made  very  extensive  on  the  diffe- 
rent waters  of  the  united  States ;  in  order  to  avoid  the  difficul- 
ties and  embarrassments  of  a  scheme  of  such  Magnitude,  and 
support  a  harmony  and  friendship  among  the  members  who  are 
interested,  I  have  thought  it  absolutely  necessary  that  the  parties 
should  live  so  contiguous,  as  to  enjoy  without  difficulty  the  ad- 
vantage of  frequent  consultation,  therefore  conclude  it  best  for 
me  to  decline  any  further  concern  in  the  scheme,  which  is  now 
capable  of  carrying  itself  on,  with  advantage  to  such  company 
of  proprietors  as  may  unite  for  that  purpose  in  and  about  Phila- 
delphia ;  yet  with  a  hope,  that  if  the  company  should  hereafter 
conclude  to  divide  the  care  of  the  different  departments  of  the 
plan,  when  extended  to  its  great  expanded  usefulness,  some  part 
thereof  may  perhaps  come  with  propriety  within  the  compass 
of  my  convenient  attention,  when  I  should  be  glad  to  be  con- 
sidered as  one  of  its  friends  and  promoters. 

from  thy  friend 

STACY  POTTS. 

The  model  had  done  its  work ;  It  had  moved  the 
small  boat  on  the  Delaware,  and  as  the  funds  of  the 
company  were  getting  low,  the  idea  of  disposing  of  the 
14* 


162  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

engine  was  acted  upon,  in  a  manner  which  the  follow- 
ing letter  will  show : 

PHILAD.,  4  Septm.,  1786. 

SIB  —  In  a  conference  that  I  had  the  honour  of  with  your  Ex- 
cellency, I  heard  you  mention,  that  the  Philosophical  Society 
ought  to  be  furnished  with  a  Model  of  a  Steam  Engine,  and 
having  compleated  one  upon  a  small  scale,  would  be  exceedingly 
happy  should  it  meet  your  Patronage  so  far  as  to  recommend 
the  purchase  of  it,  to  the  sd  learned  Society,  of  whome  Honoured 
Sir,  you  are  President.  I  am  now  morally  sure  from  Experience, 
that  a  vessel  may  be  propelled  to  great  advantage  thro  the  Wa- 
ter, by  means  of  a  steam  Engine,  and  have  undertaken  the  work 
upon  a  large  scale,  but  am  apprehensive  that  the  money  raised 
will  be  insufficient  for  the  purpose.  This  Engine  which  we 
would  wish  to  dispose  of,  cost  us  about  One  hundred  Dollars, 
but  notwithstanding,  whatever  may  be  offered  by  the  Society, 
•will  be  thankfully  accepted  of.  The  principles  upon  which  it 
operates  are  good,  and  will  in  every  respect  communicate  a 
satisfactory  Knowledge  of  a  steam  Engine,  and  in  some  mea- 
sure of  its  power.  Yet  it  has  some  defects,  which  are  chiefly 
the  following,  viz.  —  1"  the  stove  and  Boiler,  being  small,  the 
steam  is  not  sufficient  to  move  the  Piston,  more  than  about 
twenty  strokes  per  minut.  2"d  The  Piston  being  worked  both 
ways  by  steam,  its  rod  soon  becomes  heated,  that  it  cannot  move 
home  one  way,  by  a  space  of  from  half  an  inch  to  Two  inches, 
by  its  then  creating  steam.  3d  The  Pumps  which  alternately 
inject  water  into  the  Cylinder  causes  too  small  friction  :  yet  not- 
withstanding these  Dificulties  the  Piston  moves  with  considera- 
ble Velocity,  when  unloded,  and  is  supplied  with  steam.  I 
humbly  beg  leave  to  submit  this  to  your  excellency  and  beg  per- 
mition  to  subscribe  myself 

Your  Excellencya  ever  Faithful 

and  most  Devoted  Humble  Servant 

JOHN  FITCH. 

His  Excellency,  DR.  FRANKLIN. 

This  application  was  not  favorably  received.  No 
action  was  taken  by  the  society  in  reference  to  the 
purchase  of  the  model. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  163 


CHAPTER    XII. 

ENCOURAGEMENT   BY  THE   STATES  —  LARGE  STEAM-BOAT 
COMMENCED. 

THE  members  of  the  Company  were  very  much 
pleased  with  the  result  of  the  experiment  made  with 
the  skiff  steam-boat,  and  they  were  now  satisfied  that 
the  invention  might  be  made  useful.  In  this  belief,  it 
was  resolved  by  them,  in  the  month  of  August,  to  con- 
struct a  new  and  larger  boat,  with  a  twelve-inch  cylin- 
der. It  was  expected  that  the  performances  of  this 
vessel  would  forever  silence  those  who  cavilled  at  the 
scheme.  With  an  energy  of  spirit  which  was  illy  jus- 
tified by  the  prospect  before  them,  Fitch  and  Voight 
commenced  the  necessary  work  to  forward  the  resolu- 
tion. Voight  was  made  the  assignee  of  two  additional 
shares,  for  his  past  assistance  and  expected  aid.  But 
there  was  a  trouble  which  impended,  that  was  more 
serious  than  they  anticipated.  The  sum  of  money  first 
collected  had  all  been  expended  in  the  experiments 
which  were  made;  and  if  a  larger  boat  and  engine 
were  to  be  built,  fresh  contributions  were  necessary. 
The  Company  was  composed  of  three  classes  of  indi- 
viduals :  some  had  subscribed  to  forward  the  experi- 
ment, with  no  hope  of  after  benefit ;  others  had 
embarked  in  the  business  merely  as  a  speculation,  and 
were  impatient  for  a  lucrative  return  for  the  amount 
invested  ;  whilst  a  third  class  had  associated  themselves 


164  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

in  the  affair  out  of  good-will  to  Fitch,  and  to  encourage 
him.  Funds  were  now  needed,  but  there  was  no 
cheerful  contribution  made.  Meetings  of  the  society 
were  called,  which  but  few  attended,  and  at  which,  in 
consequence,  it  was  not  deemed  prudent  to  pass  reso- 
lutions calling  for  new  instalments.  "  If  levies  had 
been  then  made,"  said  Fitch,  "they  would  have  es- 
teemed the  money  as  taken  from  them  by  me,  and 
would  much  prefer  a  common  beggar  to  come  to  their 
doors  than  myself.  All  the  hardships  that  I  had  ever 
experienced  were  nothing  to  the  distress  of  feeling  in 
raising  money  from  my  best  friends.  Could  money 
have  been  extracted  from  my  limbs,  amputation  would 
have  often  taken  place,  provided  the  disjointed  part 
could  have  been  readily  joined,  rather  than  to  make 
the  demands  which  I  have.  I  need  not  add  to  this  the 
insults  of  the  populace ;  for  none  were  felt  by  me, 
excepting  only  those  designed  for  my  patrons,  and 
those  that  were  offered  by  them." 

He  could  not  give  up  the  work.  He  felt  himself 
bound  in  honor  to  go  on.  He  was  baffled  in  obtaining 
money  from  all  but  a  generous  few.  He  determined 
to  try  what  success  would  attend  an  application  for  a 
loan  to  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature.  In  that  design, 
he  prepared  the  following  petition : 

GENTLEMEN  :— I  have  no  doubt  in  my  own  mind  but  that 
every  person  who  is  acquainted  with  the  principles  of  my 
scheme  feels  a  conviction  that  it  ought  to  be  incouraged.  From 
•whome,  then,  ought  we  to  expect  incouragement  ?  Undoubtedly, 
from  those  who  are  to  be  benefited.  And  can  Individuals  be  so 
benefited  by  it  as  the  Public?  Individuals  cannot  be  benefited 
by  it  unless  the  public  pleases  to  make  it  beneficial  to  them. 
And  it  is  in  the  Confidence  that  Individuals  have  placed  in  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN     FITCH.  105 

Legislature  for  giving  incouragement  to  it,  that  it  is  brought  so 
far  as  it  is  ;  and  it  is  in  the  Confidence  that  I  have  placed  in 
the  Legislature  that  I  have  resigned  rny  all,  and  been  at  such  a 
vast  expenee,  and  labour,  to  promote  an  art  that  may  be  advan- 
tagious  to  my  Country.  I  have  ever  demeaned  myself  as  a 
faithful,  good  Citizen  of  the  State,  and  therefor  have  some  reason 
to  expect  every  incouragement  due  to  such  a  character.  Neither 
is  there  one  of  the  Gentlemen  who  promotes  it,  but  are  and  have 
been  useful  members  of  the  Community.  I  doubt  not  but  every 
one  of  the  members  of  the  Committee  feels  an  inclination  of 
rewarding  us  according  to  the  utility  of  the  invention,  and  do 
not  know  of  any  mode  that  can  be  adopted  to  reward  a  person 
for  an  improvement  so  equitable  as  an  exclusive  Privaledge  for 
a  certain  number  of  years. 

But,  Gentlemen,  I  have  made  you  acquainted  with  the  imber- 
rassments  and  difficulties  which  I  labour  under,  and  that  I  do 
not  know  of  any  other  way  of  compleating  the  Work  but  by 
taking  a  subscription  from  door  to  door.  Now  could  this  Com- 
mittee see  fit  to  reccommend  it  to  the  House  to  lend  me  £150,  I 
should  be  willing  to  pos  pone  an  exclusive  right  until  such  times 
as  I  returned  the  money  into  the  Treasury  again.  I  do  not  wish 
to  handle  a  shilling  of  the  money  myself;  but  let  it  be  given  to 
the  Treasury  of  our  Co.,  and  disposed  of  agreeable  to  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  Committee  of  s.d  Co. ;  and  since  the  scheme  is 
approved  of  by  all  men  of  science  who  have  examined  it,  and 
there  never  has  been  one,  even  of  my  most  bitter  enemies,  that 
has  ever  attempted  to  point  out  how  it  will  miscarry — Then  I 
query  whether  the  assembly  of  Pennsylvania  could  not  with 
great  propriety  take  notice  of  the  scheme,  so  as  to  give  it  proper 
incouragement?  On  the  other  hand,  provided  they  should  not, 
what  could  be  said  of  us  in  other  Countries?  "Would  they  not 
say  that  there  was  a  poor  fellow  in  America  that  proposed  a  plan 
that  would  inrich  America  at  least  3  times  as  much  as  all  that 
country  N.  W.  of  the  Ohio,  as  it  would  make  that  country  four 
times  as  valuable,  beside  the  inconceivable  advantages  to  the 
settled  portion  of  the  Continent  —  and  this  he  demonstrated  as 
clear  as  one  of  Euclid's  Problems  ;  and  not  only  that,  but  asser- 
tained  it  in  miniture,  so  as  it  could  not  admit  of  a  doubt  — and 


166  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

notwithstanding  he  applied  to  Congress,  and  to  each  of  the 
Middle  states,  they  would  not  give  him  a  single  souse  to  execute 
his  plan,  because  that  they  thought  that  he  could  do  it  by 
beging,  and  save  them  the  expence.  May  heaven  forbid  that 
such  a  stigma  should  be  placed  to  the  ac'  of  the  Country  that 
gave  me  birth ! 

Permit  me,  Gentlemen,  to  inform  you  the  prospects  that  we 
have  before  us.  Mr.  Voigt  and  myselfe  are  sure  that  we  can 
build  an  Engine ;  nay,  we  are  vain  enough  to  believe  that  we 
can  make  one  as  good  as  they  can  in  Europe. 

We  know  that  an  equal  force  applied  to  the  turning  an  axil 
tree  will  row  a  boat  faster  than  the  same  force  applied  to  an 
Oar.  These,  Gentlemen,  are  indisputable  facts,  and  have  been 
assertained  in  miniture.  Could  I  by  any  means  raise  sufficient 
money,  I  would  not  ask  it  from  the  Legislature ;  but  there  is 
such  a  strange  infatuation  in  mankind,  that  it  seems  they  would 
rather  lay  out  their  money  in  Beloons  and  Fireworks,  and  be  a 
pest  to  Society,  than  to  lay  it  out  in  something  that  would  be  of 
use  to  themselves  and  Country ;  for  even  if  we  should  miscary 
in  our  Boat,  we  make  something  woth  our  money,  and  introduce 
a  most  useful  art  into  our  nation,  and  bring  one  of  the  first 
powers  in  nature  into  the  service  of  our  Empire  ;  without  sending 
our  money  too,  or  being  beholden  to  foreign  nations.  Then  I 
beg  leave  to  query,  "Which  will  be  most  for  the  honr  of  the  State — 
to  incourage  or  discourage  the  undertaking  ?  If  it  succeeds, 
and  our  Legislature  does  nothing  but  discourage  or  take  no 
notice  of  it,  what  will  or  can  be  said  to  their  discredit? — espe- 
cially when  it  is  so  clearly  demonstrated,  and  my  imbarrass- 
ments  made  known  to  them.  Pardon  me  for  mentioning  it, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  provided  the  House  should  lend  me 
£150,  what  reflections  or  discredit  could  the  House  suffer  by  it? 
Could  any  one  say  that  the  House  threw  away  £150,  on  a  whim 
of  a  mad  projector  ?  No  !  because  it  is  supported  in  this  opinion 
of  upward  of  forty  principal  Characters  in  the  middle  States. 
Can  they  say  that  the  money  is  lost  ?  No !  because  it  is  laid 
out  in  something  worth  itself,  and  on  that  which  will  be  of  pub- 
lic utility.  But  to  make  the  worst  of  every  thing,  the  State 
gets  two  Engineers  by  it,  for  by  this  we  make  ourselves  Musters 
of  that  art,  and  in  all  probability,  we  may  save  many  hundred 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  167 

pounds,  from  going  to  Europe  for  that  Very  article.  But  if  we 
had  but  one  chance  in  a  thousand  of  succeeding,  it  ought  by  no 
means  to  be  neglected,  as  its  success  will  make  more  than  Ten 
thousand  to  one,  in  favour  of  it;  but  where  we  have  a  thousand 
chances  to  one  of  success,  it  ought  to  be  incouraged.  And 
where  the  honour  of  the  State  is  so  much  at  stake  for  a  neglect, 
and  on  the  other  hand  there  can  be  nothing  derogatory  for  give- 
ing  proper  encouragement,  especially  as  New  Jersey  has  taken 
notice  of  it  before  them,  I  cannot  let  in  the  most  distant  thought, 
but  you  will  report  to  the  House  full  as  favourable  as  my  most 
Sanguine  Wishes.  JOHN  FITCH. 

This  communication  was  sent  to  the  Committee  ap- 
pointed at  the  previous  session,  to  consider  his  Petition. 
On  the  llth  of  September,  they  made  the  following 
favorable  report : 

"The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  John  Fitch,  report:  — 
That  they  have  viewed  his  model  of  an  invention  for  moveing  a 
Boat  by  means  of  a  Steam  Engine,  of  which  they  entertain  a 
favourable  opinion.  That  the  sd  Fitch  represents  to  the  Com- 
mittee, that  he  has  began  a  boat  on  the  river  Delaware,  but 
which  from  the  narrowness  of  his  funds,  he  shall  not  be  able  to 
compleat,  without  some  public  assistance.  The  Committee  con- 
ceiving the  design,  if  executed,  will  be  of  considerable  public 
utility,  recommend  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  bring  in  a  Bill,  to 
authorize  the  Supream  Executive  Council,  to  direct  payment  of 
Mr.  John  Fitch's  drafts,  to  any  amount,  not  exceeding  in  the 
sum  of  £150,  on  proof  made  to  them  that  the  money  so  drawn 
for,  has  been  applied  to  the  purpose  of  compleating  his  Steam 
Boat, — they  taking  his  security  for  repayment  thereof,  in  twelve 
months." 

The  members  of  the  Assembly  were  not  as  well  dis- 
posed to  the  project,  although  money  had  been  previ- 
ously loaned  to  an  individual,1  they  would  not  follow 

1  April  8th,  178G,  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  passed  an 
act  to  loan  "Whitehead  Humphreys  £300  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  bar  iron. 


168  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

the  precedent.  On  the  question,  as  to  the  adoption 
of  the  report,  the  ayes  were  28,  the  nays  32.  The 
persevering  spirit  of  the  projector  would  not  permit 
him  to  abandon  the  hope  of  assistance,  even  after  this 
rebuff.  From  the  strong  vote  which  his  application 
received,  he  was  led  to  hope  that  he  might  obtain  in- 
dividual subscriptions  from  the  members  of  the  House. 
In  this  view  he  wrote  a  letter  to  Gen.  Thomas  Mifflin, 
who  was  then  the  Speaker.  He  set  forth  at  length 
the  nature  of  his  discovery,  stated  what  had  been  done 
in  reference  to  it,  and  continued  with  the  following 
language : 

HONOURED  SIR  —  I  seem  now,  for  the  want  of  money,  to  be 
under  the  necessity  of  giveing  my  opinion,  and  risqueing  my 
reputation  on  the  success  of  the  scheme.  I  am  of  opinion,  that 
a  vessel  may  be  carried  six,  seven,  or  eight  miles  per  hour,  by 
the  force  of  steam,  and  the  larger  the  vessel,  the  better  it  -will 
answer,  and  am  strongly  inclined  to  believe  that  it  will  answer 
for  sea  Voiages  as  well  as  for  inland  Navigation,  which  would 
not  only  make  the  Mississippi  as  navigable  as  Tide  Water,  but 
would  make  our  vast  Territory  on  those  waters  an  inconceivable 
fund  in  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  and  altho  it  will  be 
too  expensive  for  boats  on  Tide  water,  yet  I  believe  it  would 
answer  a  valuable  purpose  for  Stages,  Packets,  and  armed  ves- 
sels, and  that  it  would  always  be  able  to  veer  a  vessel  off  a  Lee 
shore,  and  make  a  quick  and  safe  Yoiage  —  and  should  I  say, 
that  we  could  always  overtake  any  of  the  Pirattical  cruzers  on 
the  Coast  of  Barbary,  so  as  to  give  them  proper  chastizement, 
perhaps  I  should  not  be  thought  more  extravigent  than  I  already 
have  been,  especially  when  I  assert,  if  any  oars  can  work  mine 
can,  and  in  the  most  violent  gale,  if  it  be  a  head  wind,  and  that 
six  tons  of  Machinery  will  act  with  as  much  force  as  ten  tons 
of  men  ;  and  should  I  suggest  that  the  Navigation  between  this 
and  Europe  may  be  made  so  easy  as  shortly  to  make  us  the  most 
popular  Empire  on  Earth,  it  probably,  at  this  time,  would  make 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  169 

the  whole  very  laughable.  I  am  thus  obliged,  in  some  measure, 
to  make  myself  liable  for  the  success  of  the  scheme,  for  the 
pitiful  sum  of  £150,  which  the  Original  unfortunate  thought 
has  given  me  more  trouble  than  my  Savage  Captivity  did. 

Yet,  I  cannot  indure,  since  it  is  so  nearly  compleated,  to  give 
over  the  persute.  I  ask  the  subscription  only  till  I  can  get  my 
boat  compleated,  when  I  will  return  the  money  again. 

I  wish  no  gentleman  to  risque  his  reputation  on  my  projects. 
Yet,  if  Mr.  Mifflin  could  at  some  convenient  time,  as  the  report 
of  the  Committee  having  been  favourable,  see  fit  to  encourage  a 
subscription  among  the  members  of  the  House,  he  probably 
might  render  singular  service  to  his  country.  I  do  not  expect 
that  the  money  which  I  need  could  be  raised  amongst  so  small 
a  body;  yet  it  would  be  a  President  for  other  Citizens,  and  I 
know  of  no  way  it  could  be  compleated  without.  Was  it  a  thing 
of  trifling  consequence  to  my  Country,  I  would  not  persue  it 
with  such  assiduity.  But  whilst  I  have  the  last  glimmer  of  hope 
of  compleating  it,  or  one  shilling  to  pay  my  hands,  my  ardour 
•will  not  be  abated.  But  if  Heaven  will  not  permit  it,  I  will 
chearfully  leave  the  execution  of  it  to  some  who  may  be  more 
fortunate. 

Honoured  sir,  I  do  not  present  this  to  you  as  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Assembly,  but  as  a  most  worthy  Citizen  of  the  State ; 
and  pray  you  to  pardon  me  for  troubling  you  with  this,  as  I 
shall  ever  be  delicate  in  future  in  matters  of  this  sort. 
With  the  most  perfect  respect,  Sir, 

I  beg  leave  to  subscribe  myself, 
Your  ever  Faithful 

And  very  humble  Servant, 
JOHN  FITCH. 

From  the  usual  fortune  which  attended  the  efforts 
of  this  struggling  man,  it  may  be  supposed  that  his 
appeal  met  with  no  response.  General  Mifflin  did  not 
interest  himself  in  behalf  of  the  scheme,  nor  was  any 
subscription  promoted  among  the  members  of  the 
House  of  Assembly. 
15 


170  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Notwithstanding  this  failure,  he  was  still  desirous  of 
obtaining  an  exclusive  right  to  use  his  invention.  He 
renewed  his  petition  to  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania 
for  that  privilege  t>n  the  2d  of  November.  The  me- 
morial was  referred  to  Messrs.  Moor,  Ross,  and  White- 
hill,  whose  report  was  favorable.  A  bill  was  brought 
in  giving  to  John  Fitch,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  the 
exclusive  right  to  all  boats  propelled  "by  fire  and 
steam."  On  the  20th  of  November  it  was  read  by  para- 
graphs and  passed  to  a  second  reading;  and  on  the 
28th  of  December,  having  abandoned  the  pumping 
boat,  Arthur  Donaldson,  who  now  relied  upon  a  steam 
wheel,  "  petitioned  that  Fitch  might  be  restrained  to 
steam  navigation  as  he  is  now  attempting  it:"  namely, 
by  oars. 

To  this  suggestion  a  long  reply  was  written.  The 
first  portion  of  the  answer  boldly  approached  the  in- 
quiry whether  Donaldson's  plans  were  original.  To 
this  point  Fitch  cited  the  fact  that  Bernouilli  had  long 
before  suggested  the  propulsion  of  a  boat  by  voiding 
water  from  a  trunk ;  which  was  partially  the  method 
spoken  of  by  Franklin,  and  relied  upon  by  his  adver- 
sary. Further  than  that,  it  was  declared  that  Thomas 
Paine,  in  1776,  and  Mr.  Henry  of  Lancaster,  afterward, 
had  suggested  the  plan  of  applying  steam  to  the  verge 
of  a  wheel  as  the  method  of  producing  a  moving 
power.  Coming  down  still  later,  it  was  proved,  by 
documents .  obtained  from  the  Philosophical  Society, 
that  after  Fitch  had  laid  his  model  and  drawings  before 
them,  Dr.  Franklin  had,  in  December  1785,  and  before 
the  date  of  Donaldson's  pretended  invention,  suggested 
the  identical  plan  which  now  was  claimed  by  Donald- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  171 

son,  whose  first   annunciation  of  his  steam-boat  was 
made  some  months  afterward. 

Leaving  this  branch  of  the  subject,  Fitch  took  up 
the  great  question  of  the  controversy;  which  was, 
whether,  having  proposed  certain  accessories  to  the 
means  of  propulsion,  he  was  to  be  confined  to  them, 
and  restrained  from  the  use  of  the  steam-engine — which 
was  the  motive  power — in  any  other  way.  He  claimed 
for  himself  every  method  that  might  be  devised  to 
move  a  boat  by  the  propelling  assistance  of  steam.  In 
reference  to  this  matter,  he  said, 

"  I  here  produce  seven  different  plans  of  applying  the  force 
of  steam  to  a  boat,  and  could  produce  four  different  models,  if 
necessary ;  and  if  I  should  produce  all  the  different  methods 
that  I  have  thought  of,  it  would  increase  the  number  to  fifty; 
and  amongst  these  the  very  mode  which  he  proposes." 

"  It  is  the  force  and  power  that  I  contend  for.  As  to  the 
thought  of  applying  that  force  to  vessels  I  claim  priority,  and 
not  the  mode  of  application ;  as  I  do  not  expect  to  invent  any 
new  mode  of  propelling  vessels,  and  I  believe  it  may  be  applied 
a  great  number  of  ways  with  equal  success.  In  short,  it  would 
be  the  height  of  imprudence  for  any  man  to  undertake  it  unless 
every  mode  of  propelling  was  given  him." 

*  *  *  .   *  *  * 

"  But  it  is  an  undoubted  fact  that  I  am  the  first  inventor  of 
the  steam-boat;  and  the  difficulties  that  I  have  surmounted  to 
bring  it  so  far  to  perfection  as  I  have,  would  be  incredible  were 
I  to  relate  them  ;  and  not  only  that,  but  as  I  could  not  do  it  in 
a  corner,  I  have  set  myself  up  as  a  mark  of  derision,  and  have 
Buffered  every  insult  that  the  contempt  which  the  populace  have 
for  projectors  could  inflict.  In  short,  I  will  venture  to  say  very 
few  persons  would  have  undertaken  so  arduous  a  task.  Is  it 
reasonable  to  suppose  that  a  man  in  my  station  of  life  would 
throw  away  near  two  years  of  the  prime  of  his  days,  and  en- 
counter the  difficulties  that  I  saw  before  me,  to  accomplish  this, 


172  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

•when  I  knew  at  the  time  I  ought  to  exert  every  faculty  to  keep 
myself  from  the  jaws  of  want.  It  must  be  supposed  that  I 
undertook  it  to  make  something  by  it;  this  is  the  case  with 
some  others ;  no  person  is  willing  to  throw  away  their  time  or 
money  except  they  make  something  by  it  in  case  they  succeed. 

****** 
"The  propelling  of  a  boat  with  steam  is  as  new  as  the  rowing 
of  a  boat  with  angels ;  and  I  claim  the  first  thought  and  inven- 
tion of  it. 

****** 
"  I  never  pretended  to  be  the  first  inventor  of  the  steam  engine, 
nor  ever  did  Petition  for  an  Exclusive  right  for  them.  I  have 
never  asked  it  in  any  other  way  than  where  it  has  never  been 
applied,  and  I  presume  the  World  cannot  produce  a  steam  engine 
floating  on  the  water.  Neither  do  I  conceive  that  all  the  Im- 
provements that  are  yet  to  be  made  on  steam  are  to  be  done  on 
the  water.  He  seems  to  intimate  that  I  claim  the  whole  use  of 
steam.  I  have  no  pretensions  to  it  for  Pumps,  Mills,  Forges, 
Furnaces,  &c.,  &c.,  nor  for  any  thing  whatever,  except  in  water- 
craft. 

****** 
I  am  obliged  to  say,  that  I  have  made  the  Greatest  improvement 
on  inland  navigation  that  was  ever  made,  since  the  first  inven- 
tion of  Paddles  or  Oars  —  that  is,  Oars  worked  by  Cranks,  or 
Wheels  to  answer  the  purpose  of  Cranks,  —  this  applies  to 
strength  of  a  horse,  or  Steam,  or  any  other  power,  to  equally  as 
good  advantage  as  men  with  Oars  ;  therefore  I  can  say  that  I 
have  improved  inland  Navigation,  nearly  so  much  as  the  labours 
of  men  exceed  the  labours  of  horses." 

****** 

"Sirs,  there  is  another  great  improvement  that  I  have  made 
on  the  improved  Steam  Engine,  that  is  to  throw  the  Water  out 
of  the  Vacuum  against  the  Atmosphere  without  any  friction,  by 
which  means  there  is  a  heavy  friction  of  pumping  water  avoid." 

This  memorial  was  given  to  the  Committee  of  the 
House  in  March,  1787,  to  be  read  before  the  Assembly 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  173 

if  necessary.  It  contained  in  addition  to  the  argu- 
ments refei-red  to,  some  further  account  of  his  own 
affairs.  lie  had  at  that  time  given  Voight  five  shares 
out  of  his  own  twenty,  and  had  already  parted  with 
four  more  to  raise  money  to  complete  the  work,  thus 
retaining  only  eleven  to  himself,  at  a  period  too  when 
it  was  evident  that  the  hardest  portion  of  the  work 
was  yet  to  be  done. 

The  Committee  of  the  Legislature  was  not  impressed 
with  the  belief  that  Donaldson  had  a  meritorious  cause, 
and  they  presented  no  report  whatever  upon  his  claims. 
The  bill  securing  the  rights  of  Fitch  was  again  taken 
up  in  the  Assembly,  and  passed  finally  on  the  28th  of 
March,  1787.1  This  law  was  a  copy  of  that  already 

1  During  the  Confederation,  and  before  the  adoption  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,  the  States  generally  exercised  the  prero- 
gative of  passing  laws  for  the  encouragement  of  useful  inven- 
tions, which  were  analogous  to  patent  laws.  The  acts  for  such 
purposes  ratified  in  Pennsylvania,  were  as  follow: 

Arthur  Donaldson,  for  "  the  Hippopotamus,"     Feb.  7, 1785 

Jarries   Rumsoy,  for  a  boat  to   go   against 

streams  [the  Pole  boat] Mar.  25,  1785. 

Whitehead  Humphreys,  for  the  purpose  of 

manufacturing  bar  iron,  a  loan  of  £300..   April  8,  1786. 

John  Fitch,  for  the  Steamboat Mar.  28, 1787. 

Oliver  Evans,  for  various  machines Mar.  29, 1787. 

John  Hague,  for  a  machine  for  carding  cotton     Oct.  3,  1788. 

John  Hewson,  for  calico  printing  and  bleach- 
ing  Mar.  27, 1789. 

Robert  Leslie,  for  improvements  in  clocks 

and  watches Sept.  7,  1789. 

James  Rumsey,  for  certain  machines  and 
devices,  the  pipe  boiler,  improvement    in 

Grist  mills,  &c Sept.  2,  1789. 

15* 


174  LIFE    OF    JOIIX    FITCH. 

passed  by  New  Jersey,  and  as  the  acts  afterwards 
passed  ia  favor  of  Fitch  by  other  States  (as  will  be 
hereafter  noticed),  were  similar,  the  terms  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Statute  will  furnish  a  proper  understanding 
of  the  nature  of  all  the  rest,  except  that  of  Virginia, 
to  which  there  was  a  proviso,  which  will  be  mentioned 
in  the  proper  place. 

An  Act,  for  granting  and  securing  to  John  Fitch,  the  sole 
right  and  advantage  of  making  and  employing  the  Steam-Boat, 
by  him  lately  invented,  for  a  limited  time. 

SECT.  I.  Whereas  John  Fitch,  of  Bucks  County,  hath  repre- 
sented to  the  Legislature,  that  he  hath  constructed  an  easy  and 
expeditious  method  of  impelling  Boats  through  the  water,  by 
the  force  of  steam,  praying  that  an  act  may  pass,  granting  to 
him,  his  executors,  admin",  and  assigns,  the  sole  and  exclusive 
right  of  making,  employing,  and  navigating  all  boats  impelled 
by  the  force  of  steam,  or  fire,  within  the  jurisdiction  of  this 
State,  for  a  limited  time  —  Wherefore,  in  order  to  promote  and 
encourage  so  useful  an  improvement  and  discovery,  and  as  a 
reward  for  his  ingenuity,  application,  and  diligence, 

SECT.  II.  Be  it  therefore  enacted,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted,  by 
the  Representatives  of  the  Freemen  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Pennsylvania,  in  General  Assembly  met,  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  same,  that  the  said  John  Fitch,  his  heirs,  exec™,  admiri™, 
and  assigns,  shall  be,  and  they  are  hereby,  vested  with  the  sole 
and  exclusive  right  and  privilege  of  constructing,  making,  using, 
employing,  and  navigating  all  and  every  species  or  kind  of  boats, 
or  water  craft,  which  may  be  urged  or  impelled  through  the 
water  by  the  force  of  fire,  or  steam,  in  all  creeks,  rivers,  bays, 
and  waters  whatsoever,  within  the  territory  and  jurisdiction  of 
this  State,  for 'and  during  the  full  end  and  term  of  Fourteen 
Years,  from  and  after  the  present  session  of  the  Legislature. 

SECT.  III.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  if  any  person,  or  persons,  whatsoever,  without  being 
properly  authorized  by  him,  the  said  John  Fitch,  his  heirs, 
exec™,  or  admin™,  shall  make,  use,  employ,  or  navigate  any  boat, 
or  water  craft,  which  shall  .or  may  be  urged,  impelled,  forced, 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  175 

or  driven  through  the  water  by  the  force,  power,  or  agency  of 
fire  or  steam,  as  aforesaid,  within  the  territory  or  jurisdiction 
of  this  State,  every  person  or  persons  so  offending,  against  the 
tenor,  true  intent,  and  meaning  of  this  act,  for  each  and  every 
of  such  offence,  shall  forfeit  and  pay  unto  the  said  John  Fitch, 
his  heirs,  exec™,  admin™,  or  such  other  person  or  persons  as  he, 
the  said  John  Fitch,  his  heirs  or  assigns  shall  authorize  and  em- 
power for  that  purpose,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds,  to  be 
recovered  by  action  of  debt  in  any  Court  of  Record  within  this 
State,  wherein  the  same  may  be  cognizable,  with  cost  of  suit; 
and  shall  also  forfeit  to  him,  the  said  John  Fitch,  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  all  such  boat,  boats,  or  water  craft,  together  with  the 
steam-engine,  and  all  appurtenances  thereof,  to  be  recovered  in 
manner  aforesaid,  with  cost  of  suit. 

SECT.  IV.  Provided  always,  and  be  it  further  enacted  by  the 
authority  aforesaid,  That  neither  this  act,  nor  any  clause,  mat- 
ter, or  thing  therein  contained,  shall  be  taken,  deemed,  or  con- 
strued to  prohibit  or  prevent  any  person  or  persons  from  mak- 
ing, using,  employing,  or  navigating  within  this  State,  any  kind 
of  boats  or  water  craft  heretofore  invented,  or  hereafter  to/be 
invented  on  any  other  principle,  construction,  or  model,  which 
may  be  urged,  impelled,  forced,  or  driven  along  through  the 
water  by  any  other  power,  force,  agency,  or  means,  exoept  fire, 
or  steam. 

Enacted  into  a  law  at  Philadelphia,  on  Wednesday,  the 
twenty-eighth  day  of  March,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven. 

PETER  ZACHARY  LLOYD, 

Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly. 

Signed,  by  order  of  the  House, 

THOMAS  MIFFLIN^, 
Speaker. 

"  Laws  No.  3,"  page  213. 

Whilst  this  application  was  pending,  and  the  contro- 
versy with  Donaldson  was  unsettled,  application  for  a 
special  law  securing  the  rights  of  Fitch  in  the  steam- 
boat for  fourteen  years,  had  been  made  to  the  State 


176  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

of  Delaware,  and  an  act  to  that  effect  was  passed  Feb. 
3,  1787. 

As  soon  as  the  Assembly  of  Delaware  had  given  the 
requisite  encouragement,  a  petition  was  preferred  to 
the  Assembly  of  the  State  of  New  York.  Fitch  pre- 
sented his  memorial  on  the  24th  of  February.  It  was 
referred  to  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Sickles, 
Jones,  and  Hamilton.  On  the  27th  a  favorable  report 
was  made,  and  a  bill  pursuant  to  the  prayer  of  the 
petition  was  brought  in,  which  was  finally  adopted  on, 
the  19th  of  March. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  177 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE    FIRST   STEAMBOAT   FINISHED  —  SUCCESSFUL   TRIAL 
EXPERIMENT    IN    1787. 

WHILST  the  unflagging  energy  of  the  projector  was 
manfully  struggling  with  the  difficulties  which  sur- 
rounded him,  whilst  his  attention  was  diverted  from 
his  scheme  by  the  efforts  of  Donaldson,  and  by  the 
prosecution  of  measures  necessary  to  procure  the  pas- 
sage of  laws  securing  him  his  rights  in  Delaware,  New 
York,  and  Pennsylvania,  the  work  upon  the  boat  was 
slowly  progressing.  The  supplies  of  money  were  but 
small,  and  there  were  many  obstacles  to  the  indus- 
trious continuance  of  the  enterprise.  An  engraving 
and  description  of  the  boat  had  been  prepared,  and 
was  published  in  the  Columbian  Magazine  for  Decem- 
ber, 1786. *  An  account  of  the  machine  was  then 
given  ;  which,  not  being  correct,  a  more  detailed  state- 
ment was  published  in  a  succeeding  number,  as  follows : 

"  It  is  to  be  propelled  through  the  water  by  the  force  of  steam. 
The  steam  engine  is  to  be  similar  to  the  late  improved  steam 
engines  in  Europe,  those  alterations  excepted.  The  cylinder  ia 

1  The  drawing  of  this  vessel,  given  on  next  page,  is  as  it  appears 
in  the  Columbian  Magazine.  Being  prepared  before  the  boat 
was  built,  the  necessity  of  having  a  smoke-pipe  was  not  adverted 
to.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  steam-boat  had  one  from  the 
beginning ;  but  in  this  illustration  we  have  preferred  to  follow 
the  original. 


178  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


John  Fitch's  Steamboat  of  178ft-'87. 

to  be  horizontal,  and  the  steam  to  -work  with  equal  force  at  each 
end  thereof.  The  mode  of  forming  a  vacuum  is  believed  to  be 
entirely  new ;  also  of  letting  the  water  into  it,  and  of  letting  it 
off  against  the  atmosphere  without  any  friction.  The  under- 
takers are  also  of  opinion  that  their  engine  will  work  with  an 
equal  force  to  those  late  improved  engines,  it  being  a  twelve  inch 
cylinder.  They  expect  it  will  move  with  a  clear  force,  after 
deducting  friction,  of  between  eleven  and  twelve  hundred  pounds 
weight ;  which  force  is  to  be  applied  to  the  turning  of  an  axle 
tree  on  a  wheel,  of  18  inches  diameter.  The  piston  is  to  move 
about  three  feet,  and  each  vibration  of  the  piston  turns  the  axle 
tree  about  two  thirds  round.  They  propose  to  make  the  piston 
to  strike  thirty  strokes  in  a  minute ;  which  will  give  the  axle 
tree  about  forty  revolutions.  Each  revolution  of  the  axle  tree 
moves  twelve  oars  five  and  a  half  feet.  As  six  oars  come  out 
of  the  water  six  more  enter  the  water ;  which  makes  a  stroke 
of  about  eleven  feet  each  revolution.  The  oars  work  perpendi- 
cularly, and  make  a  stroke  similar  to  the  paddle  of  a  canoe. 
The  cranks  of  the  axle  tree  act  upon  the  oar  about  one  third  of 
their  length  from  their  lower  end  ;  on  which  part  of  the  oar  the 
whole  force  of  the  axle  tree  is  applied.  The  engine  is  placed  in 
about  two  thirds  of  the  boat,  and  both  the  action  and  reaction 
of  the  piston  operate  to  turn  the  axle  tree  the  same  way." 

It  is  very  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  information 
given  in  this  paragraph  is  the  most  connected  state- 
ment that  remains  of  the  nature  of  Fitch's  steam- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  179 

engine.  The  drawings  and  papers  deposited  by  him 
with  the  American  Philosophical  Society  have  long 
since  disappeared  from  the  archives  of  that  association. 
The  model  and  drawings  which  were  in  the  United 
States  Patent  Office  were  burned  in  1836.  The  MS. 
journals  of  the  inventor,  although  full  in  regard  to 
everything  else,  contain  no  clear  statement  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  steam-engine  was  to  be  con- 
structed. We  can  only  judge  from  the  short  account 
given  in  the  Columbian  Magazine,  that  both  Fitch  and 
Voight  were  acquainted  with  the  latest  European  im- 
provements. It  was  only  in  1782  that  Watt  patented 
the  double-acting  steam-engine,  working  "  with  equal 
force  at  each  end ;"  and  except  the  model  at  Soho,  he 
made  no  other  on  that  plan  until  1787.  Condensation 
had  previously  to  that  time  been  performed  in  Bolton 
and  Watt's  engine,  by  surrounding  the  cylinder  with 
cold  water.  It  is  to  be  inferred  from  Fitch's  statement 
that  he  had  adopted  the  use  of  a  jet  of  cold  water  at 
the  top  of  the  condenser,  which  he  believed  to  be 
entirely  new.  It  was  so  in  Bolton  and  Watts'  engines, 
but  it  had  been  used  by  Desaugeliers  in  the  atmospheric 
steam-engine  long  before.  Watt  finally  introduced  the 
jet  condensation,  but  it  does  not  seem  to  be  known  at 
what  period  he  adopted  that  method.  Fitch  believed 
the  plan  to  be  original  with.  him.  Up  to  1780  the 
great  difficulty  among  engineers  seemed  to  have  been 
to  convert  the  vibratory  motion  of  the  piston  into  a 
rotary  one,  so  as  to  turn  a  wheel.  This  matter,  which 
is  now  seen  to  be  simple,  was  in  reality  pans  asinorum 
to  the  early  improvers  of  the  steam-engine.  Curious 
contrivances  by  pulleys,  ropes,  half-ratchets  working 


180  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

on  arched  tooth-sectors,  ratchet-wheels,  endless  chains 
moved  upward  and  downward  like  a  window-sash, 
and  other  methods  of  like  nature,  were  resorted  to 
or  proposed  by  Hulls,  Fitzgerald,  Clark,  Stewart, 
and  Wasbrough,  between  1736  and  1779.  In  the  latter 
year,  Matthew  Wasbrough  invented  the  most  practi- 
cable application  yet  proposed,  by  a  system  of  ratchet- 
wheels,  and  the  employment  of  a  fly-wheel,  to  carry 
the  action  beyond  the  dead  point.  During  all  this 
time,  throughout  the  civilized  world  the  treadle  of  the 
lathe  and  spinning-wheel,  which  by  a  crank  adjustment 
created  a  perfect  rotary  motion,  were  used  before  the 
eyes  of  these  industrious  schemers ;  but  they  were  too 
blind  to  see  that  the  same  principle  was  all  that  was 
needed  to  make  a  piston,  working  backward  and  for- 
ward, turn  a  wheel.  It  was  in  1780  that  James 
Pickard  patented  a  short  lever  or  crank,  on  the  ex- 
treme end  of  the  axis  to  be  turned  round,  united  by  a 
pin  to  a  rod  joined  to  the  end  of  the  great  working 
lever,  so  as  to  turn  the  crank  round  once  to  every 
stroke  of  the  engine.  This  was  the  great  desideratum  ; 
and  with  that  simple  substitution  for  the  intricate  and 
imperfect  methods  previously  used  to  obtain  a  rotary 
motion,  the  value  of  the  steam-engine  (which  before 
that  time  had  scarcely  been  employed  for  anything  but 
pumping)  became  immensely  increased.1  All  these 
things  seem  to  have  been  known  to  the  steam-boat 
company,  and  their  plan  of  an  engine  was  essentially 
Bolton  and  Watt's  double-action  engine  —  by  intro- 
ducing steam  alternately  above  and  below  the  piston, 
by  condensation  in  a  separate  vessel,  and  by  the  air- 
1  Farcy's  History  of  Steam-Engines. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  181 

pump,  to  draw  off  the  condensing  water  and  air  from 
the  condenser,  so  as  to  form  a  more  perfect  vacuum, 
and  to  add  to  the  expansive  effect  of  the  elastic  steam. 
We  shall  see,  however,  that,  perfect  as  were  Fitch  and 
Voight  in  the  theory,  they  were  embarrassed  in  prac- 
tical success  by  their  ignorance  of  the  respective  pro- 
portions which  the  boiler,  cylinder,  condenser,  and  air- 
pump  ought  to  bear  to  each  other.  The  exact  and 
scientific  relation  of  these  parts  of  the  engine  upon 
the  perfect  mechanism  of  the  whole  had  not  then  been 
ascertained  by  any  engineer,  and  our  American  con- 
structors were  forced  to  grope  in  the  dark,  as  it  were, 
feeling  their  way,  and  being  painfully  instructed  by 
the  comparative  failure  of  the  different  parts  of  the 
engine,  that  they  were  only  making  experiments  where 
they  had  hoped  for  triumphant  success. 

The  passage  of  the  law  by  the  State  of  Delaware, 
the  great  probability  that  the  experiment  would  be 
successful,  and  the  presumption  that  the  money  already 
expended  might  be  reclaimed,  led  to  an  agreement 
among  all  concerned  to  make  new  advances.  A  deed 
for  that  purpose  was  accordingly  drawn.  It  was  dated 
Feb.  9, 1787,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Ame- 
rican Philosophical  Society,  with  which  it  was  deposited 
some  years  ago  by  Dr.  Benjamin  Say.  It  was  entitled, 
"an  Indenture  for  reciprocal  advantage,"  and  recited 
that  "John  Fitch  had  invented  a  method  of  propelling 
or  driving  a  boat  through  the  water  by  the  agency  and 
force  of  steam,  but  not  being  of  an  ability  to  carry  the 
same  into  an  experiment  and  effective  use  and  service, 
did  therefore  contract  with  certain  subscribers,  convey- 
ing unto  them,  in  consideration  of  their  aid  and  assist- 
16 


182  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ance  to  him  rendered,  for  the  purport  of  carrying  the 
aforesaid  invention  into  effect,  certain  privileges,  ad- 
vantages, and  emoluments,  to  arise  from  and  issue  out 
of,  tb.Q  said  invention  ;  and  that  the  agreement  was  not 
thought  sufficient  for  the  future  interests  of  the  com- 
pany, and  that  a  new  one  was  therefore  made."  The 
regulations  specified  by  the  instrument  were  in  sub- 
stance as  follow : 

1st.  That  the  whole  interest  was  to  be  divided  into 
forty  shares ;  and  John  Fitch  conveyed  every  interest 
and  advantage  that  he  had  in  the  invention  to  the  sub- 
scribers, in  proportion  to  their  shares,  the  residue  to 
be  held  as  property  of  John  Fitch. 

2d.  John  Fitch  was  to  be  considered  as  a  member 
having  no  greater  superiority  than  other  members  of 
the  company. 

3d.  In  balloting,  every  member  to  have  a  vote  for 
all  shares  less  than  three,  but  not  to  have  more  than 
three  votes,  although  he  might  own  more  than  three 
shares.  Questions  to  be  determined  by  a  majority  of 
votes  by  shares. 

4th.  Five  directors  and  a  treasurer  to  be  elected  two 
days  after  signing  the  articles.  The  same  officers  to 
be  elected  thereafter,  in  January  of  each  year. 

5th.  The  company  to  have  stated  meetings  on  the 
first  Monday  of  the  months  of  January,  April,  July, 
and  October,  in  each  year.  Alterations  in  the  articles 
might  be  proposed  at  one  quarterly  meeting,  be  voted 
on  at  the  next,  and  if  then  sanctioned,  be  brought  up 
for  final  adoption  at  the  third  quarterly  meeting.  Di- 
vidends to  be  made  in  April  and  October. 

6th.  Directed  how  shares  might  be  transferred  and 
assigned. 
' 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  183 

7th.  Related  to  the  organization  of  the  Board  of 
Directors,  and  their  powers,  &c.  They  were  granted 
authority  to  lease  the  boats  of  the  company  for  six 
months  without  a  vote  of  the  shareholders,  but  not 
longer.  They  might  contract  debts  not  exceeding 
£100.  They  were  to  have  a  secretary,  hold  regular 
meetings,  and  keep  minutes. 

8th.  Prescribed  the  duties  of  treasurer. 

9th.  "And  whereas  the  said  John  Fitch,  in  the  course 
of  his  experiments,  hath  constructed  a  method  of  mov- 
ing a  boat  in  such  manner,  as  that  the  power  of  horses 
or  cattle  may  be  advantageously  employed,  it  is  agreed 
and  understood  that  all  the  benefits  to  be  thereby  de- 
rived are  to  be  held  and  enjoyed  by  the  company  in 
the  same  manner  and  under  the  same  rules,  as  in  the 
movement  by  steam." 

This  agreement  was  signed  by  all  the  members  of 
the  company,  at  that  time,  viz. :  John  Fitch ;  Samuel 
Vaughan,  one  share  ;  Richard  Wells,  one  share  ;  Ben- 
jamin W.  Morris,  one  share;  Richard  Stockton,  three 
shares ;  John  Morris,  one  share ;  Joseph  Budd,  one 
share  ;  Benjamin  Say,  two  shares  ;  John  and  Chamless 
Hart,  one  share ;  Thos.  Say,  one  share ;  Magnus  Mil- 
ler, one  share;  Gideon  Hill  Wells,  one  share;  Thomas 
Hutchins,  one  share ;  Richard  Wells,  junior,  one  share ; 
Richard  Stockton,  for  John  Strother,  one  share ;  Is- 
rael Israel,  one  share ;  William  Reubel,  one  share  ; 
Edward  Brooks,  jr.,  one  share ;  Henry  Voight,  five 
shares ;  Henry  Toland,  one  share ;  Thomas  Palmer, 
one  share.1  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  twenty-seven 

1  The  following  brief  note  of  the  residence  and  occupation  of 
these  gentlemen  will  not  be  inappropriate. 


184  LIFE    OF    JOHNFITCH." 

shares  had  already  been  parted  with  by  Fitch,  so  that 
his  own  interest  had  been  reduced  from  twenty  shares 
to  thirteen. 

In  May,  1787,  the  steam-engine  was  completed,  but 

HENRY  VOIGHT,  clock  and  watch  maker,  in  1785  resided  in 
Second  between  Race  and  Vine  streets. 

SAMUEL  VAUGHAN  very  probably  resided  with  his  son,  John 
Vaughan,  merchant,  who,  in  1785,  lived  in  Chestnut  st.  between 
Fifth  -and  Sixth,  and  in  1793  at  111  South  Front  st.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  and  a  useful 
citizen.  In  Philadelphia  he  is  remembered  as  the  first  person 
who  proposed  that  the  State-House  yard  should  be  planted  with 
trees.  He  died  Dec.  4,  1802,  aged  85  years. 

RICHARD  WELLS,  merchant,  in  1785  resided  at  No.  28  North 
Third  st.  In  1793  he  was  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  North  Ame- 
rica. 

RICHARD  WELLS,  JR.,  son  of  the  above. 

GIDEON  HILL  WELLS,  merchant,  lived  in  1791  at  123  South 
Second  st.  In  1793  he  resided  in  Mulberry  st.  between  Fifth 
and  Sixth,  south  side.  .  . 

BENJAMIN  W.  MORRIS,  wine  merchant  and  grocer,  58  Dock 
St.,  resided  in  1791  at  110  South  Second  st.  .  • 

JOSEPH  BCDD,  hatter,  resided  in  1785  and  in  1791  at  No.  7 
North  Second  st. 

BENJAMIN  SAY,  physician,  lived  in  1785  in  Second  st.  between 
Arch  and  Race  sts.,  and  in  1791  at  64  South  Second  st.  He  was 
the  son  of  ,  ••'-;.:' 

THOMAS  SAY,  who,  in  the  Directory  of  1785  and  of  1791,  is 
styled  "gentleman,  No.  10  Bread  st."  Thomas  Say  held  pecu- 
liar views  upon  religious  subjects,  which  are  related  in  his  Life, 
as  published  by  his  son.  Thomas  Say,  his  grandson,  and  son 
of  Dr.  Benjamin  Say,  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Academy 
of  Natural  Sciences,  and  other  important  societies.  A  sketch 
of  his  life  by  Dr.  B.  H.  Coates  is  to  be  found  in  Vol.  5th  of. 
Waldie's  circulating  Library. 

RICHARD  STOCKTON,  of  New  Jersey,  a  son  of  Richard  Stock- 
ton, a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was  not  at 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  185 

it  was  found  that  "the  wooden  caps  to  the  cylinders" 
admitted  air.  They  were  also  horizontal,  and  "the 
piston  was  leaky."  Money  was  advanced  by  the  com- 
pany to  set  them  right.  The  machinery  was  all  taken 
out  from  the  foundation  and  set  up  again  —  a  very 
tedious  job.  After  a  heavy  expenditure  and  a  waste 
of  time,  the  works  were  again  fixed  with  a  perpendicu- 
lar cylinder.  It  was  then  discovered  that  the  con- 
densation was  imperfect.  They  were  obliged  to  "throw 
the  condensers  away,"  and  procure  others  according  to 

this  time  a  permanent  resident  of  Philadelphia,  although  he 
seems  to  have  been  often  in  the  city.  lie  probably  lived  in 
Princeton. 

MAGNUS  MILLER,  merchant,  in  1785  lived  in  Front  between 
Walnut  and  Spruce,  and  resided  in  1793  at  129  South  Second  st. 

DR.  JOHN  MORRIS  lived  in  1785  in  Chestnut  st.  between  Front 
and  Second,  and  in  1791  at  11  Pear  st. 

JOHN  HART  and  CHAMLESS  HART,  merchants  in  1785  in  Front 
st.  between  Walnut  and  Spruce. 

THOS.  HUTCHINS,  Geographer-General  of  the  United  States, 
born  in  New  Jersey  about  1730,  the  author  of  several  topogra- 
phical and  historical  works,  became  a  member  of  the  steam-boat 
company  in  1785,  died  in  1789,  was  not  a  citizen  of  Philadelphia. 
_  JOHN  STROTHER,  a  protege  of  Richard  Stockton,  and  most 
probably  a  resident  of  New  Jersey. 

ISRAEL  ISRAEL,  inn-keeper,  in  1785  kept  the  Cross  Keys  cor- 
ner Third  and  Chestnut  sts.  He  was  at  one  time  Sheriff  of  the 
City  and  County  of  Philadelphia. 

WM.  REUBEL.  Of  this  gentleman  we  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain  any  memorial. 

EDWARD  BROOKS,  iron-monger  in  1791  at  103  High  st. 

HENRY  TOLAND,  grocer  in  1785  and  1791  at  Noa.  5  and  14 
North  Third  st. 

THOS.  PALMER,  merchant,  in  1785  resided  in  Front  st.  between 
Market  and  Arch. 

16* 


18C  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

the  draft  of  Voight,  who  entitled  his  invention  "a  pipe 
condenser."  Several  other  forms  of  condensers  had 
been  previously  tried,  but  were  found  to  be  useless. 
The  steam  valves  were  also  imperfect.  In  lieu  of 
these,  Voight  invented  a  double  cock,  "through  which 
the  steam  could  pass  to  the  cylinder,  and  when  it  had 
done  its  work  to  repass  said  cock  to  the  condenser." 
Whilst  these  alterations  were  being  made,  the  projec- 
tors and  the  company  were  expectant,  but  as  soon  as 
one  defect  was  remedied  another  became  apparent. 
At  length  it  was  supposed  that  everything  was  perfect, 
but,  lo !  a  new  and  unforeseen  difficulty  arose.  The 
engine  worked  so  briskly  that  the  boiler  could  not  fur- 
nish sufficient  steam  to  supply  it  continuously.  Yet 
the  boat  had  been  moved,  and  at  a  rate,  too,  when 
going,  of  three  or  four  miles  an  hour;  but  frequent 
stoppages  were  necessary  to  accumulate  fresh  supplies 
of  steam.  The  shareholders  now  became  discouraged, 
and  some  of  them  abandoned  the  project.  Fitch  in 
despair  was  inclined  to  give  up  the  attempt,  but  he  de- 
termined to  try  another  appeal.  He  prepared  a  piece 
for  publication,  hoping  to  gain  new  sympathy  from 
persons  who  had  not  yet  aided  him.  This  interesting 
paper  was  in  the  following  words  : 

The  laws  of  God  are  positive ;  and  be  that  does  not  comply 
with  them  in  the  strictest  sence  cannot  expect  success.  His 
laws  are  equally  positive  in  every  branch  of  Mechanism,  and  in 
all  sciences,  as  in  other  things,  and  I  do  not  know  of  more  than 
one  man  on  earth  that  perfectly  understands  them  all,  and 
would  willingly  give  £1000,  if  I  had  it,  to  be  made  infalible 
and  consecrated  Pope  for  one  year.  I  acknowledge  I  was  vain 
in  undertaking  a  business  which  I  knew  nothing  about,  that  has 
taken  near  a  Century  to  bring  to  perfection,— I  mean  the  steam- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  187 

engine, — especially  when  it  was  to  be  applied  to  a  different  pur- 
pose from  any  heretofore  in  use  ;  yet  I  doubt  not  but  my  phrenzy 
in  this  will  be  forgiven  when  every  circumstance  which  Prompted 
it  is  duly  weighed.  When  the  Greatest  and  most  Brilent  King 
of  France  and  the  Potent  Empress  of  Rusia  did  not  think  it 
beneath  their  dignity  to  promote  one  of  the  first  powers  in 
nature  into  their  Empires,  it  imboldens  me  to  suppose  that  the 
patriots  of  America  would  not  look  down  upon  it  with  contempt; 
especially  when  so  many  of  the  first  characters  approved  and 
assisted  in  so  great  an  undertaking.  But  the  several  circum- 
stances which  forced  me  into  it  would  be  too  tedious  a  detail. 
But  may  it  suffise  when  I  say  I  am  of  opinion,  and  ever  have 
been,  tbat  the  force  of  stoam  may  be  applied  to  great  advan- 
tage to  vessels  from  Twenty  tons  burthen  and  upward.  My 
first  principles  are  these,  &  I  know  that  they  are  strictly  con- 
formable to  the  great  laws  above  referred  to :  Take  two  equal 
forces,  and  apply  them  in  an  equal  manner  to  two  vessels  of 
equal  dimentions  and  weight,  they  must  go  equally  fast. 
t  From  my  method  of  rowing,  I  have  found  by  actual  experi- 
ment that  an  equal  force  will  carry  a  Boat  faster  than  any 
method  heretofore  used  ;  consequently,  I  know  that  if  I  have  the 
force  of  50  men,  I  can  carry  the  boat  as  fast  as  50  men  can. 
From  these  principles,  I  say  that  all  boats  from  20  tons  burthen 
and  upward  may  at  all  times  be  carried  as  fast  as  a  twelve  oared 
Barge  can  be  rowed,  provided  we  have  skill  to  execute  and  to 
proportion  our  works  ;  which  propositions  and  assertions  cannot 
be  controverted  by  any  who  are  acquainted  with  the  principles. 
Now,  on  the  supposition  that  these  facts  are  well  founded,  I  beg 
leave  to  suggest  the  advantage^  would  be  to  the  United  States. 
I  suppose  a  12  oared  barge  would  make  equal  speed  with  a 
stage  waggon  ;  and  in  many  parts  of  the  states  travelers  could 
be  accommodated  with  it;  which  would  save  a  great  expence 
of  horseflesh  and  feed  —  travelers  better  accommodated  than  in 
Waggons,  their  fair  cheaper,  and  less  fatig.ue. 

And  where  streams  constantly  tend  one  way,  great  advantage 
will  accrue  to  inland  navigation ;  and  in  particular  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  Ohio  rivers,  where  the  God  of  Nature  knew  their 
banks  could  never  be  travassed  with  horses,  and  has  laid  in  a 


188  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

store  of  fewil  on  their  head  waters  sufficient  to  last  for  the  latest 
ages,  for  the  very  purpose  of  navigating  their  waters  by  fire ; 
an  estimate  of  which  I  beg  leave  to  make : 

It  takes  30  men  to  take  a  boat  of  30  tons  burthen  from  New 
Orleans  to  the  Illinois.  Their  wages,  provisions,  Taffy,  and 
other  perquisites,  cannot  be  estimated  at  less  than  100  Dollars 
per  man  per  trip ;  which  must  cost  3000  Dollars  to  transport 
30  tons  too  and  from  New  Orleans  to  the  Illinois.  Now,  I  say, 
could  I  be  enabled  to  compleat  the  Experiment,  I  will  obligate 
myself  to  make  a  boat  of  60  tons  burthen,  with  the  Engines  and 
all  compleat  for  the  voiag,  for  2000  Dollars ;  and  as  that  could 
work  double  the  hours  as  men  at  Oars,  it  could  go  in  half  the 
time,  and  transport  120  tons  in  the  same  time  that  the  other 
•would  30  tons ;  which,  at  the  rate  they  now  charge,  would  pay 
for  itself  and  clear  10000  Dollars  whilst  one  boat  could  make 
one  trip — and  larger  boats  could  be  made  to  greater  advantage. 
It  would  also  raise  the  value  of  land  in  the  western  territories 
in  proportion. 

It  may  be  said  that  the  Spaniards  will  not  allow  us  a  trade 
down  the  Iliver.  They  cannot  refuse  us  one  up,  and  I  believe 
at  or  near  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony  may  be  nearly  as  good  a 
stand  for  the  Fur  traid  as  Hudson's  Bay,  which  is  worthy  the 
attention  of  the  most  potant  Emperor.  It  may  be  objected  that 
it  takes  up  too  much  room,  and  is  too  weighty. 

In  a  Bote  of  100  Tons,  it  would  not  take  up  as  much  room  as 
in  this  of  15  tons  ;  as  the  Engine  could  then  be  placed  throught 
ships,  and  it  may  be  made  with  less  weight  than  -we  have  now 
on  bord  in  this.  But  nothing  is  more  cumbersom  and  burden- 
some oo  Bord  of  a  Boat  than  men  and  Baggage  ;  and  6  ton  of 
Machinery  will  take  a  Boat  up  the  Mississippi  sooner  than  Ten 
ton  of  men,  baggage,  and  provisions.  It  may  also  be  said,  it 
may  be  liable  to  get  out  of  order,  it  being  so  complicated.  Was 
that  the  case  it  could  not  answer  so  valuable  a  purpose  for 
Pumping  mines,  turning  Mills,  &c.  But  the  fact  is,  most  parts 
cannot  get  out  of  order  till  wore  out,  if  once  put  in  good  order ; 
and  those  parts  which  may  get  out  of  order  are  those  that  may 
in  a  short  time  be  rectified.  But  the  Grand  and  Principle  object 
must  be  on  the  Atlantick ;  which  would  soon  overspread  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  189 

wild  forests  of  America  with  people,  and  make  us  the  most  oppu- 
lent  Empire  on  Earth,  and  at  all  times  "carry  on  a  trade  on  the 
Coasts  of  Barbary  with  impunity,  and  Chastise  them  at  plea- 
sure. Pardon  me,  generous  public,  for  suggesting  ideas  that  can- 
not be  dijested  at  this  day.  What  opinion  future  ages  will  have 
of  them,  time  only  can  make  manifest.  But  it  is  sure  that  the 
Laws  of  God  in  Machinism  have  permitted  a  steam  Engine  to 
work  on  Board  of  a  small  Boat  equally  as  well  as  if  it  had  been 
placed  on  Land,  and  rowed  the  Boat  at  the  same  time,  notwith- 
standing we  had  frequently  to  stop,  and  for  no  other  reason 
than  for  the  Want  of  steam  ;  and  the  same  law  will  permit  me 
to  make  steam  sufficient  on  Board  a  Vessel  as  on  Land,  was  my 
Boiler  properly  constructed,  unless  nature  should  recoil  so  far 
as  that  the  boiling  of  water  will  not  produce  it.  And  everyone 
— even  the  most  obstinate  Blockhead— that  saw- it  must  .be  con- 
vinced, if.  the  Engine  .worked  sufficiently  steady  and  forcible,  it 
must  answer  to  my  utmost  wishes.  But  I  know,  let  these 
things  be  ever  so  well  founded  on  reason  and  fact,  at  this  day 
they  cannot  be  looked  upon  but  as  delusive,  and  the  effects  of 
Lunacy.  Therefore  pray  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  be  useful  to 
mankind  in  the  way  that  is  known  and  practiced  to  advantage. 
How  many  parts  of  America  is  there  that  Mills  can  scarcely 
be  obtained,  and  what  wants  of  exportation  for  the  wants  of 
proper  Mills  I  could  not  attempt  to  describe.  When  future  ages 
shall  rever  great  Lewis  the  16,  for  promoting  the  happiness  and 
interest  of  Mankind,  will  there  be  no  sons  of  Columbia  to  eclips 
some  of  those  dazzling  rays  of  that  Mighty  Monarch,  and  intro- 
duce one  of  the  first  powers  of  Nature  into  our  Empire?  After 
a  long,  tedious,  and  .expensive  process,  Engineers  are  now  intro- 
duced into  our' Territory,  and  as  a  Citizen'  of.  the  States,  feel 
myself,  much  indebted  to  the  gen.erious  Characters  which  have 
effected  it,  and  it  would  give  me  extream  pain  to  see  so  valuable 
a  Branch  of  machinism  perish  for  so.  trifling  cultivation  as  is 
necessary  at  present.  And  should  I  be  patronized  in  my  per- 
sute,  and  did  not  render  every  service  in  my.  power  to  my  coun- 
try, or  State,  that  should  do  it,  or  fully  compensate  my  Patrons, 
I  would  suffer  myselfe  to  be  called  ungrateful,  and  my  patrons 
must  go  on  as  sure  ground  as  there  is  honour  in  the  United 


190  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

States.  Congress  gave  Mr.  Ramsey  assurance  of  a  considerable 
tract  of  teretory  on  the  North  side  of  the  Ohio,  provided  he 
carried  a  Boat  on  the  Ohio  50  miles  in  a  day  by  his  machinism. 
To  estimate  the  Ohio  to  set  at  1  mile  per  hour,  which  at  low 
water  it  does  not  exceed,  I  have  carried  my  Boat  at  the  rate  of 
54  miles  per  day,  against  that  stream  ; '  and  as  I  had  no  reason 
to  believe  that  it  was  offered  to  him  as  being  a  favorite  Citizen, 
•when  I  became  acquainted  with  his  principles,  it  induced  me 
to  undertake  it  on  others  [on  other  principles].  And  if  the  Car- 
rying of  a  Boat  up  the  Ohio,  50  miles  per  day,  merits  30  thou- 
sand acres  of  Land,  55  miles  per  day  is  worth  60  thousand  acres, 
and  100  miles  worth  three  such  tracts  of  Teretory,  or  at  least 
•would  make  that  country  ten  times  as  valuable,  and  although  I 
have  not  carried  my  boat  50  miles  per  day  against  the  Ohio,  yet 
as  long  as  I  have  carried  it  at  that  rate  on  other  waters,  I  think 
that  I  am  justly  entitled  to  the  reward.  Therefore,  whoever 
will  patronize  my  scheme  will  lay  out  their  money  on  as  sure 
ground  as  the  Honour  of  our  Empire,  and  if  we  can  bring  it  to 
the  perfection  which  I  expect,  may  reasonably  expect  very  con- 
siderable more  than  has  been  offered,  and  if  we  do  no  more  than 
has  been  done,  may  expect  to  be  well  rewarded  for  our  time  and 
expence,  as  Congress  will  never  take  the  advantage  of  me  on 
a'ct  that  there  was  no  previous  contract  made. 

But  why  those  earnest  solicitations,  to  disturb  my  nightly  re- 
pose, and  fill  me  with  the  most  excruciating  anxieties  ;  and  why 
not  act  the  part  for  myself,  and  retire  under  the  shady  Elms  on 
the  fair  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  eat  my  coarse  but  sweet  bread 
of  industry  and  content,  and  when  I  have  done,  to  have  my 
body  laid  in  the  soft,  warm,  and  loomy  soil  of  the  Banks,  with 
my  name  inscribed  on  a  neighbouring  poplar,  that  future  gene- 
rations, when  traversing  the  mighty  Waters  of  the  West,  in  the 
manner  that  I  have  pointed  out,  may  find  my  grassy  turff,  and 
spread  their  cupbord  on  it,  and  circle  round  their  chearful 

1  The  meaning  of  this  passage,  which  is  imperfectly  expressed, 
is  undoubtedly  that,  according  to  the  rate  that  the  steam-boat 
went  on  the  Delaware,  it  was  obvious  that  it  could  be  propelled 
on  the  Ohio  54  miles  a  day. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  191 

Knowing  of  Whiskey,  with  three  times  three,  till  they  should 
suppose  a  son  of  misfortuene  could  never  occupy  the  place.1 

The  Steamboat  has  been  a  matter  of  great  speculation  and 
discourse,  and  I  think  it  my  duty  to  inform  the  public  that  I  am 
obliged  to  quit  it  puerly  for  the  want  of  rescourses,  after  it  is 
demonstrated  as  clear  as  one  of  Euclids  problems,  that  it  may 
answer  a  Valuable  purpose. 

But  I  thank  my  God  for  the  persevereance  he  has  given  me, 
in  earring  to  such  length  as  I  have,  and  for  the  tranquility  of 
my  mind  which  I  feal  at  Present,  altho  in  some  respects  I  have 
thrown  myselfe  in  very  allarming  circumstances,  but  should  I 
once  reach  the  fertile  plains  of  Kentucky,  and  there  injoie  my 
health,  I  would  bid  defiance  to  the  blind  unguided  frouns  of  for- 
tune, and  when  once  in  calm  retirement,  the  promis  of  Riches 
or  favour  of  courts  will  not  be  solicited.  I  have  long  resided  in 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  confess  that  I  leave  it  with  re- 
luctance. I  return  them  my  most  sincear  thanks  for  the  pro- 
tection which  I  have  received  from  the  Laws,  and  humbly  beg 
leave  to  give  her  a  cordial  farewell,  as  I  now  expect  to  become 
a  Citizen  of  another  state.  It  would  have  given  me  a  heartfelt 
pleasure,  could  I  have  rendered  more  and  an  immediate  service 
to  the  State  than  I  have,  yet  please  myself  with  the  Idea,  when 
I  am  sleeping  under  the  Poplar  in  the  lofty  forests  of  Kentucky, 
my  feable  attempts  will  be  found  of  that  use  which  I  now  wish 
them  to  be.  Yet  doubt  not,  but  I  shall  be  censured  by  the 
guiddy  and  unthinking,  but  if  the  number  does  not  exceed  those 
that  could  mend  what  I  have  done,  I  retire  with  content,  and 
fully  satisfied  to  say  farewell.  JOHN  FITCH. 

Without  sending  this  article  to  the  newspapers,  he 
showed  it  to  several  of  the  principal  stockholders. 

1  Concerning  this  remarkable  passage,  he  wrote  in  1792  —  "I 
confess,  at  the  time  of  my  writing  this,  that  my  Ideas  of  happi- 
ness were  somewhat  singular,  that  the  Summit  of  my  everlast- 
ing Bliss  should  extend  no  further  than  being  surrounded  with 
a  set  of  Drunken  Boatmen,  but  as  they  are  generally  the 
honestest  part  of  the  community,  and  more  liberal  according  to 
what  they  possess,  I  will  not  retract  what  I  have  said." 


192  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


They  relented,  and  more  money  was  furnished.  The 
necessary  alterations  were  made.  The  machinery 
worked  exceedingly  well,  and  there  was  plenty  of 
steam.  The  boat  was  accordingly  tried  on  the  22d  of 
August,  1787.  The  Convention  to  frame  a  Federal 
Constitution  was  then  in  session  in  Philadelphia,  and 
the  members  were  invited  to  witness  the  experiment. 
The  boat  was  tried  near  the  place  where  it  was  built, 
and  it  was  propelled  by  the  power  of  steam.  It  went 
but  slowly,  however :  the  cylinder  was  only  twelve 
inches  in  diameter,  and  the  force  of  the  machinery  was 
not  sufficient  to  move  the  boat  at  a  rate  of  speed  which 
would  render  it  valuable  for  use  on  the  Delaware  as  a 
packet-boat.  Nevertheless,  those  who  were  present 
were  satisfied  that  the  trial  had  demonstrated  that  a 
boat  might  be  moved  by  steam.  In  his  journal,  Fitch 
mentions  that  nearly  all  the  members  of  the  Conven- 
tion were  present,  except  General  Washington.  Gov. 
Randolph,  of  Virginia,  "was  pleased  to  give  the  inven- 
tion Countenance,"  and  Dr.  Johnson,  of  Virginia,  the 
next  day  sent  the  patient  enthusiast  the  following  note : 

Dr.  Johnson  presents  his  compliments  to  Mr.  Fitch,  and 
assures  him  that  the  exhibition  yesterday  gave  the  gentlemen 
present  much  satisfaction.  He  himself,  and,  he  doubts  not, 
the  other  gentlemen,  -will  always  be  happy  to  give  him  every 
countenance  and  encouragement  in  their  power  which  his  inge- 
nuity and  industry  entitles  him  to. 

Thursday  afternoon,  23d  August,  1787. 

In  the  Diary  of  Rev.  Ezra  Stiles,  of  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  under  date  1787,  Aug.  27,  is  the  following  entry : 

"Judge  Ellsworth,  a  member  of  the  Federal  Convention,  just 
returned  from  Philadelphia,  visited  me,  and  tells  me  the  Con- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  193 

vention  will  not  rise  under  three  -weeks.  He  there  saWa  Steam- 
Engine  for  rowing  boats  against  the  stream,  invented  by  Mr. 
Fitch,  of  Windsor,  in  Connecticut.  He  was  oil  board  the  boat, 
and  saw  the  experiment  succeed."1 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  David  Rittenhouse, 
the  celebrated  astronomer,  Andrew  Ellicott,  Professor 
in  the  Episcopal  Academy,  and  Dr.  John  Ewing,  Pro- 
vost of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  gave  the  fol- 
lowing certificates  of  the  performance  of  the  boat  at 
the  time  to  which  we  have  referred  and  subsequently : 

These  may  certify  that  the  subscriber  has  frequently  seen  Mr. 
Fitch's  steamboat,  which  with  great  labour  and  perseverance  he 
has  at  length  compleated,  and  has  likewise  been  on  board  when 
the  boat  was  worked  against  both  wind  and  tide,  with  a  very 
considerable  degree  of  velocity,  by  the  force  of  steam  only.  Mr. 
Fitch's  merit  in  constructing  a  good  steam  engine,  and  applying 
it  to  so  useful  a  purpose,  will  no  doubt  meet  with  the  encourage- 
ment he  so  justly  deserves  from  the  generosity  of  his  country- 
men ;  especially  those  who  wish  to  promote  every  improvement 
of  the  useful  arts  in  America.  DAVID  RITTENHOUSE. 

PHILADELPHIA,  Dec.  12th,  1787. 

Having  also  seen  the  Boat  urged  by  the  force  of  steam,  and 
having  been  on  board  of  it  when  in  motion,  I  concur  in  the 
above  opinion  of  Mr.  Fitch's  merits.  JOHN  EH^ING. 

From  the  well  known  force  of  steam,  I  was  one  of  the  first  of 
those  who  encouraged  Mr.  Fitch  to  reduce  his  theory  of  a  steam- 
boat to  practice ;  in  which  he  has  succeeded  far  beyond  my 
expectations.  I  am  now  fully  of  opinion  that  steamboats  may 
be  made  to  answer  valuable  purposes  in  facilitating  the  internal 
navigation  of  the  United  States,  and  that  Mr.  Fitch  has  great 
merit  in  applying  a  steam  engine  to  so  valuable  a  purpose,  and 
entitled  to  every  encouragement  from  his  country  and  country- 
men. ANDREW  ELLICOTT. 

PHILADELPHIA,  December  13th,  1787. 

1  Duykinck's  Cyclopedia  of  American  Literature,  vol.  I.,  p.  161. 


194  LIFE    OF    JOHX    FITCH. 

Whilst  the  Company  were  pleased  with  the  result 
of  this  experiment,  the  fact  that  the  engine  was  not 
of  sufficient  power  for  a  passage-boat  or  packet  was 
most  apparent.  That  fresh  expenditures  would  be 
necessary  to  procure  a  larger  cylinder,  and  to  recon- 
struct all  the  works  to  suit,  was  also  evident.  In  this 
posture  of  affairs,  Richard  Wells,  Richard  Stockton, 
and  Dr.  Benjamin  Say,  three  of  the  most  earnest 
among  the  shareholders,  undertook  to  procure  further 
advances.  They  were  successful  in  inducing  their 
companions  to  yield  more  assistance.  The  patterns 
for  an  eighteen-inch  cylinder  were  procured,  and  Fitch 
set  out  in  October  to  Warwick  Furnace,  in  New  Jersey, 
to  have  them  cast.  Upon  his  return  he  was  informed 
that  a  person  from  Virginia  had  told  some  members 
of  the  Company  that  James  Rumsey,  of  Virginia,  was 
claiming  to  be  the  inventor  of  a  steam-boat. 

This  person,  it  was  afterwards  ascertained,  was  Wil- 
liam AskeAV.  "  He  told  so  many  unaccountable  stories 
about  it,"  said  Fitch,  "that  lie  gained  but  little  credit 
with  the  Company  as  to  the  truth  of  the  main  story 
itself.  For  my  own  part,  I  could  not  credit  it,  but  sus- 
pected him  to  be  a  man  that  wished  to  tell  great  sto- 
ries ;  but  I  could  not  [did  not]  see  him  myself." 

It  was  well  known  to  Fitch  and  his  associates  that 
in  1784  Rumsey  had  invented  a  mechanical  boat,  pro- 
pelled by  hand-labor,  and  by  the  force  of  the  streams 
of  rivers  which  borrowed  the  power  of  the  current,  to 
work  setting-poles  and  wheels.  Being  aware  of  the 
real  nature  of  Rumsey's  invention,  he  was  unprepared 
for  the  claim  now  made  by  the  latter  —  that  he  had 
invented  a  boat  to  be  propelled  by  steam.  He  was-of 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  195 

opinion  tliat  the  idea  of  employing  steam  was  an  after- 
thought, adopted  by  Rumsey  after  Fitch's  petition  to 
Congress  in  1785,  and  his  subsequent  proceedings  had 
become  notorious,  and  after  experiment  had  satisfied 
Rumsey  that  the  pole-boat  was  impracticable,  or  rather 
not  of  sufficient  utility  to  be  worthy  of  employment. 

In  order  to  refute  this  claim,  Fitch  immediately  pro- 
cured the  certificate  of  Edward  Pennington  and  others, 
who  had  seen  Rumsey's  boat  work,  that  it  was  pro- 
pelled by  water-wheels  and  setting-poles,  and  that 
there  was  no  steam  used. 

With  these  proofs  he  set  out  to  Virginia,  to  ask  from 
the  Legislature  of  that  State  the  passage  of  a  law  to 
secure  him  in  his  rights.  He  reached  Richmond  in 
the  latter  part  of  October,  and  saw  in  the  House 
Colonel  Powell,  of  Loudon  County,  with  whom  he  was 
acquainted.  To  him  he  showed  his  papers,  including 
the  letter  of  Ex-Governor  Johnson,  of  Maryland, 
given  Nov.  25th,  1785.  On  reading  the  latter,  Colonel 
Powell  called  to  Colonel  Clapham,  who  was  a  brother- 
in-law  of  Ex-Governor  Johnson,  and  who  also  lived  in 
Berkeley  County,  near  James  Rumsey. 

When  Clapham  read  it,  very  significant  looks  were 
exchanged  between  himself  and  Powell.  Whilst  Clap- 
ham  did  not  come  out  in  determined  opposition  to 
Fitch,  he  urged  the  existence  of  the  law  in  favor  of 
Rumsey  before  the  Committee  which  was  appointed  to 
consider  the  petition  of  the  new  claimant.  General 
Wood  and  Colonel  Wills,  of  the  Senate,  had  seen 
Rumsey's  boat  in  motion  at  Bath,  in  1784 :  and  they 
attended  before  the  Committee,  and  testified  that  it 
was  entirely  different  from  Fitch's  boat,  and  that  it 


196  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

was  not  moved  by  steam.  Beside  this,  the  claimant 
immediately  set  to  work  to  pen  his  reasons  why  he 
believed  that  Ramsey's  law  ought  not  to  prevent  the 
passage  of  one  securing  to  him  special  rights  in  all 
boats  "moved  by  fire  and  steam." 

In  that  paper  he  argued  that  Rumsey  was  entitled 
to  nothing  under  the  law  but  the  use  of  his  own  boat, 
which  it  was  notorious  was  not  a  steam-boat.  If  he  had 
really  invented  a  steam-boat,  and  was  dishonest  enough 
not  to  communicate  it  to  the  public,  he  was  not  enti- 
tled to  any  reward,  because  the  public  would  thereby 
be  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  the  invention.  If  he 
had  even  communicated  his  discovery  to  some  persons, 
he  was  entitled  to  no  patronage ;  because  they  might 
die,  and  the  secret  die  with  them.  It  was  urged  that 
the  first  inventor  who  lays  his  discovery  before  the 
public  ought  to  be  encouraged  ;  and  as  Fitch  laid  the 
plan  of  his  steam-boat  before  Congress  in  August, 
1785,  and  before  the  Legislature  of  Virginia  in  De- 
cember of  that  year,  he  was  entitled  to  the  protection 
which  he  asked.  In  New  York  and  Pennsylvania, 
laws  had  been  passed  giving  Rumsey  every  right  to 
which  he  was  entitled  in  his  own  boat.  The  same 
states  had  afterwards  given  special  rights  to  Fitch, 
because  it  was  not  thought  that  the  acts  securing  the 
privileges  of  the  former  were  in  any  manner  infringed 
by  those  protecting  the  latter.  When  Fitch  was  before 
in  Virginia,  in  1785,  there  was  no  idea  broached  by 
any  one  that  Rumsey  had  invented  a  steam-boat.  The 
bond  which  Fitch  had  given  to  Governor  Patrick 
Henry,  to  produce  a  steam-boat  in  the  waters  of  Vir- 
ginia when  a  thousand  copies  of  his  map  were  sold, 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  197 

was  referred  to,  and  it  was  argued  that  if  Governor 
Henry  had  supposed  that  Ramsey's  law  had  any 
reference  to  a  steam-boat,  he  would  not  have  permitted 
the  execution  of  an  instrument  the  condition  of  which 
was  that  a  law  of  the  State  should  be  broken.  It  was 
also  suggested  that  the  law  securing  Rumsey's  rights 
was  ambiguous  and  imperfect,  —  his  invention  was  not 
described,  —  so  that  there  was  no  ascertaining  what 
rights  were  secured  by  it  except  by  common  report. 
These  topics  were  urged  with  ingenuity,  and  at  length, 
and  they  produced  an  effect.  The  Committee  reported 
favorably,  and  the  Legislature  of  Virginia,  on  Novem- 
ber 7,  1787,  passed  a  law  in  the  terms  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania statute,  securing  Fitch's  rights  in  the  steam- 
boat for  fourteen  years ;  conditioned,  however,  that 
the  privileges  thereby  granted  should  be  "void  at  the 
expiration  of  three  years  from  its  commencement, 
unless  the  said  John  Fitch  shall  then  have  in  use,  on 
some  river  of  this  commonwealth,  boats,  or  craft  of  at 
least  twenty  tons  burthen,  constructed  and  navigated 
as  above  described." 

In  Maryland  the  same  paper  was  shown  to  the  Com- 
mittee appointed  on  Fitch's  petition  for  a  special  law. 
There  was  added  to  it  this  argument,  that  in  his  peti- 
tion to  the  Assembly  of  that  State,  Rumsey  had  said 
that  his  plan  was  for  "navigating  boats  against  the  cur- 
rents of  very  rapid  rivers,  at  very  small  expence." 
"Now,"  urged  Fitch,  triumphantly,  "the  cost  of  a 
steam-engine  is  eight  times  that  of  the  boat  itself;  it 
was  impossible  that  he  meant  the  steam-boat."  He 
also  referred  to  the  favorable  report  in  relation  to  his 
scheme,  made  in  1785,  to  the  Maryland  Legislature, 
17* 


198  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  argued  that  it  would  not  have  been  sanctioned  if 
his  steam-boat  had  in  any  manner  interfered  with  Rum- 
sey's  law.  In  the  Assembly  at  Annapolis  was  Gov. 
Thomas  Johnson,  to  whose  letter  we  have  hitherto  re- 
ferred. This  gentleman  had  now  changed  his  ground, 
and  was  disposed  to  thwart  the  man  whom,  in  Nov., 
1785,  he  had  furnished  with  a  very  flattering  testimo- 
nial of  merit  and  originality.  He  threw  some  obsta- 
cles in  the  way  of  the  petitioner,  but  finally  believing 
that  Gen.  Washington  would  certify  that  he  had  seen 
a  steam-boat  propelled  by  Rumsey,  at  Bath,  in  1784, 
agreed  to  rest  the  question,  whether  Fitch's  law  should 
be  resisted  on  the  reply  to  that  enquiry.  This  created 
delay,  and  Fitch,  not  having  time  to  wait,  left  Anna- 
polis. In  consequence  of  his  not  pushing  the  matter, 
the  law  was  not  passed. 

Among  the  few  evidences  preserved  of  the  inter- 
course between  Fitch  and  his  family,  is  a  letter  written 
about  this  time,  and  addressed  to  his  daughter  Lucy, 
dated  Dec.  18,  1787,  from  which  the  following  extract 
has  been  made  :l 

11  You  express  a  tender  regard  for  your  mother,  which  strongly 
recommends  you  to  me.  Should  I  be  enabled  to  throw  a  fortune 
in  your  way,  and  you  should  neglect  your  mother,  I  should  think 
you  too  base  to  be  my  daughter." 

1  Whittlesey :  Sparks'  American  Biography. 


LIFE     OP    JOHN    FITCH.  199 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

APPLICATION   TO    CONGRESS  —  JAMES    RUMSEY'S   STEAM- 
BOAT. 


the  inventor  returned  to  Philadelphia,  the 
funds  of  the  company  were  again  nearly  exhausted, 
and  there  seemed  to  be  but  little  prospect  of  comple- 
ting the  boat  with  the  means  provided.  Hope  was  now 
indulged  that  Congress  would  act  favorably,  and  Fitch 
went  to  New  York,  where  that  body  was  sitting,  and 
presented  the  following  memorial  : 

To  His  Excellency,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  Con- 

gress assembled  — 

The  subscriber  humbly  begs  leave  through  you,  to  represent 
his  situation,  and  reasons  why  he  has  presented  a  Petition  to 
the  United  States,  praying  encouragement  to  his  Steam  Boat. 
I  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  Sir,  that  my  imbarrassments  is  really 
such,  that  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  praying  Congress  to  give 
ine  some  assistance.  I  Know  that  Congress  are  delicate  in 
running  into  projects,  for  fear  of  having  the  honour  of  our  Em- 
pire stained  by  adopting  chymerical  whims.  Yet  when  matters 
are  well  assertained,  the  greatest  honour  that  Princes  can  do 
themselves,  is  to  promote  Useful  arts.  That  part  of  life  shines 
with  much  more  lusture  in  peter  the  great  than  all  his  acquired 
glories  in  his  just  Wars.  I  know  that  the  finances  of  Congress 
are  small  at  present,  of  course  ;  I  know  that  they  have  not  mo- 
ney to  give,  yet  was  they  to  give  me  land  I  could  turn  that  into 
money,  and  compleat  my  undertaking.  The  report  of  a  Com- 
mittee of  Congress  on  Mr.  Rumseys  petition,1  now  lying  on 

1  This  was  for  encouragement  for  the  mechanical,  or  pole  boat, 
for  working  against  streams. 


200  LIFEOFJOnXFITCH. 

your  files,  appearing  to  me  as  a  reward  held  forth  to  the  public 
for  promoting  inland  navigation,  and  being  convinced  that  I 
have  merited  the  reward  by  carrying  my  Boat  on  the  Delaware 
with  velosity  sufficient  to  move  at  the  rate  of  60  miles  pr  day 
against  the  Ohio,  when  the  Water  is  low,  and  also  being  strongly 
urged  by  necessity,  emboldens  me  to  present  the  afore  men- 
tioned Petition. 

I  do  not  desire  at  this  time  to  receive  immoluments  for  my 
own  private  use,  but  to  lay  it  out  for  the  benefit  of  my  Country. 

And  should  they  think  that  a  proper  medium  that  would  not 
be  too  much,  and  so  that  I  should  not  apply  to  them  again,  it 
•would  probably  effect  one  of  the  greatest  things  that  was  ever 
exhibited  to  the  World,  and  Congress  might  at  a  future  day, 
reward  me  further,  accordingly  as  they  should  see  the  utility 
of  the  scheme  merited  it.  I  know,  Sir,  that  there  is  doubts  yet 
remaining,  whether  it  will  ever  answer  a  valuable  purpose  or 
not,  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  two  of  the^  most  obstinate  questions 
that  could  be  asked  is  fully  Decided.'  The  first  is,  Can  an  En- 
gine be  placed  in  a  boat  so  as  to  work  ;  the  2nd,  Can  a  Boat  be 
made  to  carry  an'Engine  ?  We  find  that  it  is  resolved  to  our 
satisfaction. 

There  is  other  objections  that  yet  causes  doubts.  The  first  is, 
Can  we  make  it  go  fast  enough  to  answer  a  valuable  purpose? 
2d,  Will  it  not  be  so  weighty  that  it  will  not  be  valuable  ?  3d, 
Will  it  not  take  up  so  much  room  as  to  render  it  useless?  4th, 
Will  it  not  be  continually  getting  out  of  repair?  5th,  Will  not 
the  expence  over  run  the  profits  ?  As  to  the  first,  we  can  obtain 
any  force  that  we  wish  for  ;  of  course,  we  can  carry  it  any  dis- 
tance, in  a  given  time,  we  choose,  provided  our  works  are  strong 
enough  to  stand,  and  I  expect  they  may  without  much  difficulty 
be  made  to  go  Eight  miles  per  hour,  and  it  is  out  of  the  power 
of  man  to  estimate  the  power  of  a  vessel  that  would 'go  at  that 
rate.  And  as  to  the  room,  —  a  Vessel  of  100  tons  burthen  would 
not  take  but  about  seven  tons  of  machinery  to  work  it,  and  in  a 
vessel  of  300  tons  burthen  it  would  be  lighter  than  most  sails 
and  Riging.  Of  course,  for  river  vessels  on  the  Mississippi,  it 
would  be  lighter  than  men,  baggage,  and  provisions ;  for  Sea 
vessels  lighter  than  the  present  mode,  and  as  to  repairs,  Heaven 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  201 

has  so  decreed,  that  whatever  Machinery  is  most  useful  to  man- 
kind is  generally  least  liable  to  get  out  of  repair,  and  particu- 
larly as  for  the  Steam  Engine,  as  complicated  as  they  be.  I 
expect  that  the  labour  of  One  man  would  keep  three  such  en- 
gines in  perpetual  repair  as  turns  the  Mills  at  Blackfriars  Bridge. 
Neither  do  they  expect  that  they  are  Idle  two  days  in  a  year, 
on  ac't  of  the  repairs  of  the  Steam  Engines,  which  Engine,  would 
be  sufficient  for  a  first  rate  man  of  war. 

And  as  to  the  expence,  labour  that  could  be  done  by  three  op 
four  men  it  would  never  be  worth  while  to  erect  a  engine  to 
do  it;  but  where  it  could  do  the  business  of  10,  20,  or  30  men, 
it  may  be  applied  to  advantage,  and  it  is  immaterial  whether  it 
be  applied  to  a  Pump,  to  a  Mill,  or  to  a  vessel. 

I  am  persuaded,  for  a  vessel  of  300  tons,  that  an  Engine  suffi- 
cient for  her,  could  be  made  for  less  money  than  for  masts,  sails, 
and  riging.  And  when  I  have  my  trade  fully  learned,  and  tools 
i^i  good  order,  I  will  obligate  myself  to  make  a  Boat  of  GO  Tons 
burthen  for  2000  Dollars,  with  the  engine  all  compleat  for  the 
Voiage,  which  is  much  short  of  what  it  now  costs  to  carry  a 
Boat  of  30  Tons  burthen,  too  and  from  New  Orleans  to  the  Illi- 
nois. And  this  could  do  four  times  the  business  of  the  other, 
as  it  could  work  double  the  hours  as  men  at  Oars.  These  are 
stubborn  facts  that  cannot  be  controverted,  but  by  men  who 
will  not  reason  in  it. 

Haveing  overcome  every  difficulty  that  ocationed  doubts  to 
arise,  and  having  done  what  was  never  done  before,  (The  world 
has  been  worrying  against  the  stream  this  six  thousand  years,) 
but  we  have  exhibited  to  the  World  a  Vessel  going  against  strong 
winds  and  Tides,  without  sails,  or  men  to  labour ;  the  Vessel 
carrying  the  Engine,  the  Engine  propelling  the  Vessel,  and  all 
mov-eing  together  against  the  Currents. 

Now  I  presume,  if  we  never  carry  it  to  any  greater  degree  of 
perfection,  we  have  merited  a  generious  reward  for  laying  the 
foundations  for  future  improvemets.  We  have  by  this  means 
introduced  Engineers  into  our  Country,  and  Consequently,  one 
of  the  first  powers  of  Nature  into  our  Empire,  which  may  be 
useful  in  most  great  works  —  which  alone  is  sufficient  to  merit 
the  attention  of  Congress.  But,  as  I  said  before,  I  do  not  wish 


202  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

any  premiums  to  make  a  monopoly  to  myselfe,  —  only  to  lay  it 
out  for  the  Benefit  of  my  country,  —  and  will  wait  the  Gene- 
rosity of  the  Legislatures  for  further  compensation. 

My  situation  is  truely  this :  I  have  been  obliged  to  support 
myselfe  in  the  City  of  Philad  near  two  years,  and  have  run  out 
the  last  shilling  which  I  have.  Our  Company  is  so  numerious, 
and  some  of  them  gave  their  money  purely  to  encourage  the 
undertaking,  without  any  selfish  motives  ;  and  some  others  not 
being  well  abel  to  pay  thro  the  scarsity  of  cash,  which  brings 
money  in  such  small  sums,  I  am  continually  iinbarrassed ;  and 
my  demands  being  so  much  beyond  what  we  ever  expected,  I 
am  thrown  into  the  greatest  dificulties  and  distress.  These 
inconceivable  disopointments,  delays,  and  expence,  has  a  ten- 
dency to  relax  the  good  intentions  of  my  Patrons.  Although  I 
do  not  know  one  that  I  think  would  withold  supplies,  yet  my 
fealings  are  so  delicate  on  the  matter,  had  I  money  of  my  own, 
I  would  compleat  it  at  my  own  expence  sooner  than  at  theirs, 
as  the  expence  has  so  far  exceeded  what  I  ever  expected.  But 
that  is  not  what  gives  me  the  most  acute  distress :  the  thoughts 
of  Liveing  on  mean  and  base  dependance  destroys  my  thoughts 
from  being  imployed  where  they  ought  to  be ;  that  is,  on  the 
execution  of  my  business. 

Did  it  yet  remain  in  a  doubt,  and  Congress  must  risque  their 
reputation  on  projects,  I  would  not  ask  any  thing  from  them  ; 
but  as  long  as  they  can  give  it  for  something  already  done, 
which  has  merited  their  attention,  for  introducing  the  improved 
steam  engine,  if  for  nothing  more,  that  I  hope  they  will  not  look 
upon  my  Petition  unreasonable.  I  beg  leave,  sir,  to  make  some 
observations  more.  The  certificates  and  information  that  I  have 
produced  to  your  house,  will  undoubtedly  raise  the  value  of  our 
Western  Teritory,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  more  than  if  .the 
scheme  was  returned  into  the  Chaos  of  night,  as  it  was  before  I 
suggested  the  Idea.  If  I  should  be  instrumental  in  raising  the 
value  of  them  lands,  it  is  but  reasonable  that  I  should  have 
some  compensation  for  it;  and  be  it  ever  so  small,  I  never  shall 
need  it  more  than  at  the  present  time,.  And  should  any  doubts 
arrise  respecting  Mr.  Rumsey's  proposition,  be  assured  that  I 
proved  to  the  Committee  of  the  assembly  of  Virginia,  by  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHX    FITCH.  203 

testimony  of  Mr.  Ed.  Penington,  General  Wood,  and  Conl. 
"Wills,  that  my  plan  was  different  from  Mr.  Kumsey's;  which 
Testimonials  are  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Clerk  of  the  Assembly 
of  Maryland,  in  order  to  obtain  an  exclusive  right  in  that  State, 
as  I  have  done  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  for  14  years.  All 
which  observations,  tho'  suggested  without  order,  the  subscriber 
humbly  prays  your  Excellency,  and  the  Honorable  House, 
will  indulge  without  offence ;  to  whome  it  is  humbly  submit- 
ted, by 

Your  Excellency's  most  Devoted 

and  very  Humble  Servant, 

JOHN  FITCH. 

To  his  Excellency,  the  President 
of  Congress. 

When  this  communication  was  presented,  Congress 
was  not  full.  It  was  not  until  the  latter  end  of  Feb- 
ruary, or  about  the  beginning  of  March,  1788,  that 
nine  states  were  represented.  Before  any  act  could  be 
sanctioned,  the  representatives  of  nine  members  of  the 
Confederation  were  required  to  vote  upon  it.  This 
peculiarity  of  the  system  was  calculated  to  repress  the 
passage  of  wholesome  laws.  If  a  state  was  only  repre- 
sented by  two  persons,  the  negative  of  one  of  those 
individuals  would  operate  to  prevent  any  vote  being 
recorded  as  the  voice  of  that  particular  state.  Thus, 
it  might  be  that  a  single  representative  could  defeat 
the  desires  of  eight  states,  and  neutralize  the  influence 
which  his  own  constituents  might  have  on  the  affirm- 
ance of  important  matters.  The  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Congress  was  very  favorable  to  the  wishes 
of  the  petitioner,  but  he  feared  to  have  it  pressed  to  a 
vote,  although  he  believed  that  there  was  a  general 
good  feeling  among  the  members  for  its  advancement. 


204  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

He  did  not  deem  it  prudent  to  risk  so  much  on  a  con- 
tingency which  a  single  dissenting  vote  might  ruin. 
He  therefore  left  New  York,  and  returned  to  Philadel- 
phia ;  where  the  advance  of  the  season  required  his 
attention  to  the  steam-boat.  This  procrastination 
proved  very  unfavorable.  Rumsey  had  now  made  his 
appearance,  claiming  to  be  the  original  inventor  of  the 
steam-boat,  and  he  was  distributing  widely  his  pam- 
phlet. This  was  entitled,  "A  short  treatise  on  the 
application  of  steam ;  whereby  is  clearly  shewn,  from 
actual  experiments,  that  steam  may  be  applied  to 
propel  boats,  or  vessels  of  any  burthen,  against  rapid 
currents,  with  great  velocity.  The  same  principles 
are  also  introduced  with  effect,  by  a  machine  of  a 
simple  and  cheap  construction,  for  the  purpose  of 
raising  water  sufficient  for  the  working  of  Grist  Mills, 
Saw  Mills,  &c.,  and  for  watering  meadows,  and  other 
purposes  of  agriculture.  By  James  Rumsey,  of  Berkeley 
County,  Virginia.  Philadelphia :  Printed  by  Joseph 
James,  Chestnut  Street.  MDCCLXXXVIII."  In 
this  publication  Rumsey  assumed  to  be  the  inventor  of 
the  steam-boat,  and  he  pronounced  Fitch  to  be  a  pla- 
giarist. While  the  latter  was  at  New  York,  one  of 
these  pamphlets  had  been  given  to  Colonel  Wells,  who 
had  hitherto  been  a  warm  friend  of  the  Pennsylvanian. 
His  faith  in  the  originality  of  his  claims  was  at  first 
considerably  shaken  by  the  publication,  and  he  received 
Fitch  on  his  return  coldly.  The  latter  was  much 
afflicted  at  this  manifestation,  and  he  resolved  to  fight 
Rumsey  with  a  similar  weapon.  He  applied  himself 
assiduously  to  the  pen  for  three  or  four  days,  and  he 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  205 

produced  a  reply,  which  he  showed  to  Colonel  Wells, 
who  was  so  much  struck  with  its  excellence  and  strength 
of  argument  that  he  volunteered  to  re-write  it,  correct- 
ing the  deficiencies  in  style  of  the  author,  and  pre- 
senting it  to  the  world  in  a  more  logical  form.  The 
title  of  this  pamphlet  was  "  The  Original  steam-boat 
supported ;  or,  a  reply  to  Mr.  James  Rumsey's  Pam- 
phlet ;  shewing  the  true  Priority  of  John  Fitch,  and 
the  false  datings  of  James  Rumsey.  Philadelphia : 
Printed  by  Zachariah  Poulson,  Junr.,  on  the  west  side 
of  Fourth  Street,  between  Market  and  Arch  Streets. 
MDCCLXXXVIII."  Whilst  this  literary  battle  was 
in  progress,  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Fitch's 
memorial  was  called  up  in  Congress,  twelve  states  being 
represented.  Either  the  feelings  of  the  members  had 
meanwhile  been  affected  by  Rumsey's  statement,  which 
was  sent  to  New  York,  or  some  of  them  who  had  pro- 
fessed themselves  Fitch's  friends  were  false  to  him. 
At  all  events,  for  some  cause,  the  motion  to  adopt  the 
recommendations  of  the  report  was  not  agreed  to,  and 
the  motion  was  only  saved  from  utter  defeat  by  a  post- 
ponement. 

In  reference  to  that  failure,  he  afterwards  wrote  — 

When  I  received  information  of  that,  and  reflecting  how  I 
had  ruined  myself  to  serve  my  Country,  and  how  many  sleep- 
less, restless  nights  I  had  suffered  to  bring  about  one  of  the 
greatest  events,  and  such  exquisit  tortures  of  the  mind,  and  had 
placed  myself  on  the  base  dependance  of  my  friends,  it  effected 
me  beyond  measure,  could  I  have  been  dependant  on  my  town- 
ship only  for  my  sustenance  I  could  have  supported  it  much 
better,  or  could  I  have  recalled  my  life  back  for  four  years,  I 
would  gladly  have  offered  my  neck  to  the  common  executioner." 
18 


206  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

His  spirits  were  very  much  depressed  for  a  time,  so 
much  so  that  he  resorted  to  the  bottle  more  freely  than 
usual,  although  he  did  not  indulge  to  an  extent  calcu- 
lated to  render  him  utterly  stupid.  After  giving  way 
to  this  weakness,  his  energy  of  mind  returned,  and  he 
again  determined  to  apply  every  faculty  to  the  great 
work,  hoping  thereby  to  vindicate  himself  in  the  good 
opinions  of  men. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  -          207 


CHAPTER    XV. 

CONTROVERSY  WITH   RUMSEY. 

THE  first  pamphlet  of  Rumsey  was  published  in 
Berkeley  County,  Virginia.  It  is  in  the  library  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society  at  Philadelphia,  No. 
276,  Pamphlets  No.  38.  The  date  of  the  signature  to 
the  Berkeley  steamboat  pamphlet  is  Jan.  1,  1788 :  the 
reprint  was  probably  issued  sometime  in  April.  We 
shall  not  follow  the  order  observed  in  presenting  the 
statements  of  that  publication,  but  give  them  according 
to  their  chronological  sequence :  George  Rootes, 
Charles  Orrick,  and  Michael  Bedinger  certified  that  in 
1784  James  Rumsey  informed  them  that  he  was  pro- 
jecting a  boat  to  work  by  steam.  Bedinger  stated  that 
his  information  was  received  in  or  before  the  month  of 
March,  1784,  and  that  he  had  spoken  about  it  freely 
when  in  Kentucky,  in  that  year,  and  an  inference  was 
suggested  that  Fitch  first  heard  of  it  there.  This  in- 
sinuation may  as  well  be  disposed  of  at  once  by  refer- 
ence to  the  facts  heretofore  presented,  which  show  that 
the  latter  was  not  in  Kentucky  after  the  spring  of 
1781.  It  is  possible  that  he  might  have  heard  of  Be- 
dinger's  stories  whilst  surveying  in  the  north-western 
territory  in  1784  and  the  early  part  of  1785,  but  as 
he  was  not  among  the  settlements  and  was  at  conside- 
rable distance  from  Kentucky,  this  probability  is  a 
weak  one.  Beside  this,  Fitch  utterly  denied  ever  hav- 


208  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ing  heard  of  a  steam-boat,  or  even  of  a  steam-engine, 
before  he  conceived  the  idea  in  April,  1785. 

Charles  Morrow,  a  brother-in-law  of  James  Rumsey, 
and  a  partner  in  the  boat,  declared  that  the  latter  told 
him,  in  the  beginning  of  1785,  that  he  intended  to 
build  a  steam-boat.  The  same  Morrow  made  affidavit 
that  in  the  summer  of  1785  Rumsey  had  a  boat  built 
near  the  town  of  Bath,  which  was  brought  down  the 
Potomac  to  Shepherdstown  in  the  fall.  That  shortly 
afterward  Joseph  Barnes,  another  brother-in-law,  after- 
wards Rumsey's  agent,  was  sent  to  Baltimore,  to  have 
some  machinery  cast,  and  that  on  his  return  he  was 
sent  to  Fredericktown  in  order  to  have  some  other 
things  made  according  to  Mr.  Rumsey's  direction  ;  that 
he  returned  about  the  middle  of  November,  and  that 
he  (Morrow)  then  saw  the  machinery,  to  wit,  a  boiler, 
two  cylinders,  pumps,  pipes,  etc. ;  that  about  the  first 
of  December  the  boat  was  ready  for  experiment,  but 
the  ice  coming  on  prevented  a  trial  during  that  winter. 
During  that  winter  Rumsey  told  him  that  he  had  in- 
vented several  improvements ;  in  particular,  a  newly- 
constructed  boiler.  Smiths  were  set  to  work  at  it,  but 
when  it  was  ready  to  be  put  together,  the  workmanship 
was  so  badly  executed  that  the  machinery  would  not 
answer  the  purpose.  It  was  therefore  determined  to 
try  the  experiment  with  the  old  boiler.  In  the  spring 
of  1786  the  machinery  was  put  in  the  boat,  and  the 
first  trial  made,  Morrow  being  on  board.  The  boat 
then  went  against  the  current  until  the  steam  escaped 
by  the  then  imperfectness  of  the  machine.  An  expe- 
riment was  afterward  made  with  the  new  boiler,  but 
the  heat  of  the  steam  dissolved  the  soft  solder.  Hard 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  209 

solder  was  then  applied,  and  in  July,  1787,  the  new 
boiler  was  ready  to  work.  Morrow  also  declared  that 
he  conceived  at  the  time  of  his  affidavit  (Dec.  8,  1787), 
that  the  boat  was  near  completion. 

Joseph  Barnes,  who  was  employed  by  Rumsey  to  su- 
perintend the  manufacture  of  the  machinery,  declared 
that  he  was  engaged  for  that  service  in  May,  1785. 
The  boat  was  first  built,  and  Rumsey  told  him  it  was 
to  go  by  steam.  He  confirmed  what  Morrow  had  said 
relative  to  his  journeys  to  Baltimore  and  Fredericktown 
to  get  the  machinery  made,  the  interference  of  the  ice, 
the  construction  of  the  new  boiler,  and  the  employ- 
ment of  the  old  boiler  again.  With  the  latter  a  trial 
was  made  in  April,  1786,  and  the  boat  went  against 
the  current  of  the  Potomac,  but  many  parts  being  ren- 
dered useless,  the  experiment  was  then  given  over. 
After  repairs,  another  effort  was  made,  but  it  failed, 
"though  it  made  many  powerful  strokes,  and  sent  the 
boat  forward  with  such  power  that  one  man  was  unable 
to  hold  her."  In  December  the  new  constructed  boiler 
was  used,  but  the  soft  solder  melted.  In  the  spring 
of  1787  the  boat  was  repaired,  and  ready  for  trial  in 
September,  when  the  boat  moved  up  the  river  against 
the  current,  with  about  two  tons  on  board  besides  the 
machinery,  at  the  rate  of  two  miles  per  hour,  but  the 
joints  opened  and  let  great  quantities  of  steam  escape. 
At  the  trial,  Dec.  3d,  the  machine  was  still  imperfect 
in  many  parts.  Barnes  was  of  opinion  that  the  new 
constructed  boiler  was  "  the  greatest  thing  of  that  kind 
extant,  as  it  did  not  hold  more  than  twenty  pints,"  and 
in  his  opinion  "  would  make  more  steam  than  a  Five 
hundred  gallon  boiler  in  the  common  way."  Its  weight 
18* 


210  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

was  about  seven  hundred  pounds,  and  it  did  not  occupy 
"more  space  than  four  flour  barrels." 

Ex-Governor  Thomas  Johnson,  of  Maryland,  the 
same  who  gave  Fitch  the  letter  to  Gov.  Smalhvood, 
dated  Nov.  25th,  1785  (see  page  144),  stated  that 
Rumsey  had  told  him  in  October  or  November,  1785, 
that  he  relied  on  steam  for  his  first  power,  and  wished 
him  (Gov.  J.)  to  promote  his  having  cylinders  cast  at 
the  works  of  Governor  Johnson  and  Brother.  This 
undertaking  (the  casting  of  the  cylinders)  did  not  then 
succeed.  Gov.  J.  considered  himself  "under  an  obli- 
gation of  secresy  till  in  the  progress  of  making  copper 
cylinders  in  Fredericktown  some  time  afterward" — he 
found  that  "the  designed  purpose  of  the  cylinder  was 
a  subject  of  pretty  general  conversation." 

Rumsey  also  quoted  an  extract  from  a  letter  to 
General  Washington,  which  he  averred  he  wrote  March 
10th,  1785,  in  which,  after  speaking  of  the  pole-boat, 
he  proceeded  to  say, 

"  I  have  taken  the  greatest  pains  to  perfect  another  kind  of  a, 
boat,  upon  the  principles  I  mentioned  to  you  at  Richmond  in  No- 
vember last  [1784],  and  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you  that  1 
have  brought  it  to  great  perfection.  It  is  true,  it  will  cost  some- 
thing more  than  the  other  way,  but  when  in  use  it  will  be  more 
manageable,  and  can  be  worked  with  as  few  hands.  The  power 
is  immense,  and  I  have  quite  convinced  myself  that  boats  of 
passage  may  be  made  to  go  against  the  current  of  the  Missis- 
sippi or  Ohio  rivers,  or  in  the  Gulf  Stream  (from  the  Leeward 
to  the  Windward  islands),  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  miles  per 
day.  I  know  this  will  appear  strange  and  improbable  to  many 
persons,  yet  I  am  very  certain  it  may  be  performed  ;  besides,  it 
is  simple  (when  understood),  and  is  also  strictly  philosophical. 

"  The  principle  of  this  boat  I  am  very  cautious  not  to  explain, 
as  it  would  be  easily  executed  by  an  ingenious  person.  The 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  211 

plan  I  mean  to  persue  is  to  put  both  the  machines  on  board  of 
boats  built  on  a  large  scale;1  and  then,  sir,  if  you  would  be 
kind  enough  to  see  them  make  actual  performances,  I  should 
not  doubt  but  that  the  Assemblies  would  allow  me  something 
handsome  ;  which  would  be  the  more  advantageous  to  the  public 
than  to  give  me  the  exclusive  right  of  using  them." 

To  this  letter  it  is  averred  that  General  Washington 
made  this  reply : 

"  It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  find  by  your  letter  that  you 
are  not  less  sanguine  in  your  boat  project  than  when  I  saw  you 
in  Richmond  ;  and  that  you  have  made  such  further  discoveries 
as  will  render  them  more  extensively  useful  than  was  at  first 
expected.  You  have  my  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  your 
plan." 

Major-General  Horatio  Gates,  Rev.  Robert  Stubbs, 
teacher  of  the  Academy  in  Sheperdstown,  Abraham 
Shepherd,  William  Brice,  David  Gray,  John  Morrow, 
Henry  Bedinger,  Thomas  White,  and  Charles  Morrow 
certified  that  they  saw  Rumsey's  boat  move  against 
the  current  of  the  Potomac  on  the  3d  of  December, 
1787,  with  two  tons  on  board,  exclusive  of  the  machi- 
nery, at  the  rate  of  three  miles  an  hour,  by  the  force 
of  steam,  without  any  external  application  whatever. 

Moses  Hage,  Cornelius  Wynkoop,  John  Mark,  Be- 
noni  Swearingen,  John  Morrow,  Joseph  Swearingen, 
Charles  Morrow,  Thomas  White,  Robert  Stubbs,  Abra- 
ham Shepherd,  and  Henry  Bedinger  testified  that 

1  Two  boats  were  connected  in  Rumsey's  model  of  September, 
1784  (the  pole-boat),  and  he  was  of  opinion  that  the  experiment 
would  not  succeed  on  that  principle  with  a  single  boat.  This 
is  the  substance  of  a  note  in  the  pamphlet. 


212 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


they  saw  the  boat  moved  by  steam,  December  11, 
1787,  against  the  stream,  at  the  rate  of  four  miles  an 
hour.1 


James  Rumsey's  Steam-boat,  Virginia,  1788. 


1  Beside  Rumsey's  pamphlet,  to  which  reference  has  been 
made,  he  issued  two  others,  viz. : 

"  The  explanations  and  the  annexed  plates  of  the  following 
improvements  in  mechanics,  &c."  It  contained  engravings  of 
his  pipe  boiler,  machinery  for  raising  water,  a  grist  and  saw- 
mill, etc.  It  was  printed  by  Joseph  James,  Philadelphia, 
MDCCLXXXVIII. 

Another  pamphlet  was  entitled 

"  Explanation  of  a  steam  engine,  and  the  method  of  applying 
it  to  propel  a  boat.  Invented  by  James  Rumsey,  of  Berkeley 
County,  Virginia.  Philad. :  Printed  by  Joseph  James,  Philada. 
MDCCLXXXVIII.  Entered  30th  Aug.,  1788,  in  the  prothono- 
tary's  office  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  at  Philad." 

It  contained  a  sectional  engraving  of  his  machinery.  AVe 
copy  the  description : 

A,  a  section  of  a  small  part  of  a  boat,  with  the  whole  of  the 
machinery. 

S,  the  kelson  of  the  Boat. 

B,  part  of  the  trunk,  through  which  the  water  is  forced  out 
at  the  stern. 

C,  C,  valves  for  the  admission  of  water  into  the  trunk  at  its 
bottom. 

c,  c,  c,  valves  to  admit  water  into  the  box,  DT> ;  which  water  fol- 
lows the  piston,  F,  of  the  pump.  The  piston  is  curved  up  by 

' 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  213 

William  Askew  testified  that  he  was  in  Philadelphia 
in  September,  1787,  and  saw  Fitch's  boat,  and  was  of 
opinion  that  the  boiler  would  hold  five  hundred  gallons 
of  water  ;  that  the  machinery  would  weigh  seven  tons, 

means  of  the  belt,  G,  which  connects  both  of  the  pistons,  F,  F. 

DD,  a  box,  to  which  the  lower  cylinder  is  firmly  fastened  ; 
which  box  is  seen  open,  for  the  advantage  of  representing  the 
valves,  c,  c,  c. 

E,  a  valve  on  the  top  of  the  trunk,  near  the  box,  DD,  to  admit 
air,  which  follows  the  water  that  is  put  in  motion  by  the  strokes 
of  the  engine,  and  lets  it  pass  off  freely,  while  the  wate'r  rises 
gradually  into  the  trunk  through  the  valves,  C,  C,  at  its  bottom, 
and  is  then  ready  to  resist  the  next  stroke  of  the  engine. 

F  II,  the  upper  cylinder  of  the  steam  engine. 

F  G,  the  lower  cylinder. 

II,  a  rod,  screwed  on  to  the  top  of  the  bolt,  G  ;  which  rod 
communicates  with  the  apparatus  for  opening  and  shutting  the 
cock,  K.  This  apparatus  it  is  not  thought  necessary  to  repre- 
sent. 

I,  a  swelled  cup  in  the  pipe,  thro  which  water  is  thrown  by 
every  stroke  of  the  engine  into  the  upper  cylinder,  upon  the 
piston,  F. 

K,  a  cock  at  the  junction  of  the  pipes,  communicating  from 
the  boiler  with  the  cylinder  and  condenser,  which  admits  the 
steam  under  the  piston  of  the  upper  cylinder.  The  piston  ia 
then  carried  up,  and,  by  the  communication  of  the  rod,  II,  with  , 
the  cock,  K,  changes  the  operation,  and  passes  off  the  steam  for 
condensation  into  the  condensing  vessel,  N.  The  atmosphere 
then  forces  down  the  piston,  as  it  is  represented  in  the  plate ;  by 
which  means  the  water  is  forced  through  the  trunk,  B. 

L,  a  puppet  valve,  communicating  with  the  boiler,  and  acting 
as  a  regulator ;  and  must  be  weighted,  to  determine  the  requi- 
site pressure. 

M,  the  furnace,  in  which  the  pipe  boiler  is  to  be  placed. 
0,  the  gauge  cock  and  spiral  worm,  connecting  the  forcing 
pump,  P,  and  the  air  vessel,  R,  with  the  boiler. 

a,  a  valve,  which  admits  the  water  to  rise  into  the  barrel  of 


214  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  would  cost  <£300  to  construct  it.  On  the  contrary, 
Ruinsey's  steam  machinery  would  not  weigh  more  than 
eight  hundred  pounds,  would  not  require  more  than 
four  bushels  of  coal  in  twelve  hours,  and  would  require 
"  no  more  water  at  one  time  than  one  pint,  or  perhaps 
not  so  much,  to  keep  the  machinery  in  sufficient  motion 
to  stem  the  stream  of  a  river  sufficiently  fast  to  he 
safe  with  a  cargo  of  goods;"  and  that  his  machinery 
might  he  made  for  .£20. 

Henry  Bedinger,  who  had  also  seen  Fitch's  hoat, 
certified  that,  according  to  his  opinion,  Rumsey's  plan 
•was  eligible,  simple,  and  practicable ;  whilst  Fitch's 
machinery  appeared  to  be  "  bulky,  weighty,  and  com- 
plicated." Fitch's  engine  and  apparatus,  he  supposed, 

the  force  pump,  P,  and  prevents  it  from  returning,  while  it  is 
forced  through  the  valve,  b,  into  the  air  vessel,  R ;  where  it  lies 
under  a  given  pressure  upon  the  valve,  d. 

Q,  a  pipe  leading  from  the  cup,  U,  fixed  to  the  edge  of  the 
upper  cylinder,  from  which  it  receives  some  of  the  surplus 
water,  which  is  passed  through  the  pipe  to  the  collar,  V,  through 
which  a  communicating  bolt,  G,  is  drawn ;  and  by  this  means 
the  admission  of  air  is  prevented. 

T,  a  cock  to  regulate  the  quantity  of  water  forced  up  into  the 
upper  cylinder. 

W,  a  valve  at  the  insertion  of  the  trunk,  B,  into  the  box,  DD, 
which  falls  when  the  stroke  of  the  piston  is  made,  and  prevents 
the  return  of  the  water  or  air  into  the  Box,  D  D,  from  the  trunk, 
B,  whilst  the  water  follows  the  piston,  F,  through  the  valve, 
c,  c,  c,  into  the  box,  D  D,  in  order  to  make  the  next  stroke. 

X,  the  mouth  of  the  furnace. 

Y,  a  pipe  leading  from  the  top  of  the  condensing  vessel  to  the 
box,  DD,  every  time  the  piston  is  carried  up ;  and  it  has  a  valve 
on  the  box,  D  D,  which  prevents  the  water  from  being  forced 
back  again. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  215 

weighed  five  tons,  whilst  Ramsey's  "weighed  but  five 
hundred  pounds. 

Before  noticing*"  the  Original  steamboat  supported," 
let  us  again  present  a  few  dates,  previously  given  in 
this  biography,  in  order  to  make  the  important  ques- 
tion of  time  more  easily  understood  : 

1785.     April,         Jno.  Fitch  conceived  the  idea  of  a  steam- 
boat. 

"  Aug.  20,  Letter  in  favour  of  his  scheme  by  Dr.  John 

Ewing. 
"     25,  Letter  in  favour  of  his  scheme  by  "Wm.  C. 

Houston. 

"     27,  Letter  in  favour  of  his  scheme  by  SamueJ 
Smith. 

"  "     29,  Petition  of  Fitch  presented  to  Congress. 

"  Sept.  27,  Drawing  of  the  boat,  models,  and  tube  boiler 
presented  to  the  American  Philosophical 
Society  by  John  Fitch. 

"  Dec.  2,  Dr.  Franklin  lays  before  the  Am.  Philos. 

Society  a  paper  on  maritime  affairs,  sug- 
gesting an  improvement  on  Bernouilli'a 
plan  of  propelling  a  boat  by  sucking  in 
and  voiding  water. 

"  Nov.,  Application  made  by  Fitch  to  the  Legisla 
ture  of  Virginia  for  encouragement. 

"  "      16,  Bond  executed  to  Gov.  Patrick  Henry,  con- 

ditioned for  the  sale  of  maps,  to  raise 
funds  to  feuild  a  steamboat. 

"  "     25,  Ex-Gov.  Thomas  Johnson  gives  Jno.  Fitch 

a  letter  of  recommendation  to  Gov.  Small- 
wood,  of  Maryland,  in  favour  of  his  ap- 
plication for  a  law  to  give  him  encourage- 
ment in  the  building  of  his  steamboat. 

"  Dec.,         Petition    presented    to    the   Assembly   of 

Pennsylvania,  for  assistance.  Committee 
reported  favorably,  but  no  action  taken. 


216  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

1785.  Dec.  20,  Advertisment  for  aid  to  build  the  steamboat 

in  Maryland  Gazette. 

1786.  Jan.  6,  Petition    presented    to    the   Assembly   of 

Maryland,  and 

"  "     19,  Report  favorable  to  the  invention  made,  but 

assistance  declined,  on  account  of  a  want 
of  Funds. 

"  Feb.,  Application  made  to  the  Legislature  of  New 
Jersey  for  assistance.  £1000  asked  for. 
The  proposition  rejected. 

"  March  11,  Petition  to  the  Pennsylvania  Assembly,  and 
remonstrance  against  Arthur  Donaldson's 
claim  to  be  the  inventor  of  the  steam- 
boat. 

"  18,  Law  giving  John  Fitch  exclusive  rights  for 
fourteen  years  in  boats  propelled  by  Fire 
and  steam,  passed  by  the  State  of  New 
Jersey. 

"  "     23,  Another  petition  and  remonstrance  against 

Donaldson's  pretensions,  to  the  Legisla- 
ture of  Penna.,  referred  to  a  committee. 

"          April  17,  Steamboat  Company  formed. 

"  .   Working   model   of  a  steam   engine  with 

one  inch  cylinder  made. 

"  July,  Skiff  moved  by  steam  engine,  three  inch 
cylinder,  on  the  Delaware,  at  Philadel- 
phia. Experiment  unsatisfactory,  on  ac- 
count of  the  paddles  not  working  well. 

"  "     27,  Skiff  moved  by  steam,  with  the  newly  in- 

vented oars,  at  considerable  speed,  and 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  projectors. 

"  Sept.,  Petition  to  the  Assembly  of  Pa.,  for  a  loan 
of  £150,  to  aid  in  prosecuting  the  experi- 
ment, and  building  a  boat  for  working 
purposes. 

"  "     11,  Committee  report  favorably. 

"  "  The     Assembly     negative     the     proposed 

law. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  217 

1786.  Nov.  2,  Another  petition  to  the  Assembly  of  Penn- 

sylvania, for  an  exclusive  right   in   the 
steamboat. 

"  Dec.,         Drawing  and  description  of  Fitch's  steam- 

boat published  in  the  Columbian  Maga- 
zine. 

"     28,  Arthur  Donaldson  protests  against  the  pass- 
age of. a  law  in  favour  of  Fitch. 

1787.  March,  Reply   of    Fitch,    and    argument    against 

Donaldson. 

"  "     28,  Bill  giving  exclusive  rights  in  the  steam- 

boat  to  John   Fitch   passed,   finally,  in 
Pennsylvania. 
Feb.  3,  Law   securing   exclusive    Rights   to   Fitch 

passed  by  the  state  of  Delaware. 
"     24,  Memorial  to  the  Legislature  of  New  York. 
"     27,  Favorable  report,  and  the  law  securing  the 

rights  of  Fitch  reported. 
March  19,  Law  of  New  York  passed. 

"  Aug.  22,  The  new  steamboat  tried  on  the  Delaware, 
[cylinder  12  inches,]  and  the  experiment 
witnessed  by  nearly  all  the  members  of 
the  Convention  to  form  the  Constitution 
of  the  U.  S.  Certificate  by  Dr.  Johnson, 
of  Virginia,  David  Rittenhouse,  John 
Ewing,  and  Andrew  Ellicott. 

Oct.,         Fitch's  company  first  informed  that  James 
Rumsey,  of  Virginia,  claimed  to  be  in- 
ventor of  a  steamboat. 
"  Nov.  7,  Law  in  favour  of  Fitch  passed  by  the  state 

of  Virginia. 

"      "    Petition  to  the  Assembly  of  Maryland  for 
a  law,  by  John  Fitch. 

1788.  Feb.,         Petition  to  Congress  for  a  grant  of  land,  to 

aid  in  the  construction  of  the  beat. 

"  March,  Rumsey's  pamphlet  first  circulated  in  Phi- 
ladelphia. 

19 


218  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  John  Fitch  had,  from  Au- 
gust, 1785,  (when  his  petition  was  presented  to  Con- 
gress,) until  October,  1787,  been  openly  and  notori- 
ously prosecuting  his  schemes  before  public  bodies. 
During  all  that  time,  James  Rumsey,  who  claimed  to 
have  thought  of  a  steam-boat  in  1784,  which  was 
ready  for  trial  in  December,  1785,  and  which  was  pro- 
pelled by  steam  in  the  spring  of  1786,  and  during 
1787,  did  not  in  any  manner  press  his  claims  to  that 
invention,  although  his  rival  had  come  into  his  native 
State,  Maryland,  and  into  Virginia,  in  which  he 
resided,  and  had  asked  privileges  from  his  friends  and 
fellow-citizens  which,  if  Rumsey's  allegations  were 
true,  Fitch  should  never  have  obtained.  In  all  these 
proceedings  by  the  Pennsylvanian  he  met  with  no 
opposition,  upon  account  of  a  want  of  originality  in 
his  plan. 

Rumsey's  friends  and  neighbors,  and  even  his  repre- 
sentatives, made  no  suggestion  that  Fitch  infringed 
upon  him.  The  steam-boat  was  encouraged  on  all 
hands,  as  a  novel  and  most  important  invention.  The 
whole  country  rang  with  accounts  of  it.  Yet  all  this 
time,  according  to  the  statements  made,  thirty  months 
after  the  Pennsylvanian  had  entered  upon  his  enter- 
prise, Mr.  Rumsey  was  not  only  the  original  projector 
of  the  steam-boat,  but  had  propelled  one  before  Fitch 
moved  his  skiff  and  larger  boat  by  steam  on  the  Dela- 
ware. These  circumstances  are  very  stubborn  facts  in 
this  controversy,  and  they  cannot  fail  in  having  their 
effect  upon  the  minds  of  the  reflecting. 

"  The  Original  steamboat  supported  "  was  bold  and 
defiant.  In  that  publication  the  ground  was  strongly 


LIFE    OF   JOHN    FITCH.  219 

taken  that  the  time  at  which  Rumsey's  steam-boat 
experiments  were  represented  to  have  taken  place  was 
antedated ;  that,  having  failed  in  the  pole-boat,  Rum- 
sey  attempted  to  deceive  the  public  by  assertions  that 
the  favorable  certificates  of  the  performances  of  that 
machine  were  given  to  the  steam-boat.  The  question 
as  to  who  first  thought  of  the  steam-boat,  was  not  con- 
tested by  Fitch.  He  admitted  that  General  Washing- 
ton told  him,  in  November  or  December,  1785,  that 
Ilumsey  had  spoken  of  steam,  but  that  he  (General 
Washington)  did  not  think  that  he  placed  any  very 
great  reliance  upon  it  as  a  moving  power.1  The  con- 
troversy between  these  parties  seemed  to  be  most  bit- 
terly fought  upon  the  question,  Who  made  the  first 
experiments  ?  The  Pennsylvanian  did  not  scruple  to 
assert  that  the  Virginian  never  determined  to  employ 
that  subtle  agent,  steam,  until  the  pole-boat  failed,  and 
until  the  experiments  upon  the  Delaware  were  notori- 
ous throughout  the  country.  He  commenced  by  giving 
an  historical  account  of  his  own  proceedings,  with  the 

1  This  is  manifest  by  the  after-discovered  evidence  given  in 
Sparks'  Life  of  Washington  (see  note  to  page  142),  in  the  letters 
of  General  Washington  to  Hugh  Williamson,  March  15,  1785, 
and  to  James  Ilumsey,  January  1,  1786  ;  in  both  of  which  the 
writer  speaks  only  of  "  a  mechanical  boat."  The  latter  is  the 
more  remarkable,  as  it  was  written  a  month  or  two  after  Fitch's 
visit  to  Washington— fourteen  months  after  Kumsey  claims  that 
he  communicated  his  idea  of  a  steam-boat  to  the  General,  and 
nine  months  after  the  letter  alleged  to  have  been  written  by 
Kumsey  about  his  boat  that  could  be  propelled  in  the  Gulf 
Stream,  etc.  Notwithstanding  these  representations,  and  al- 
though a  steam-boat  inventor  had  visited  Washington  a  month 
before,  nothing  is  said  about  Rumsey's  steam-boat ;  but  General 
Washington  calls  his  invention  "  a  mechanical  boat." 


220  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

proper  vouchers.  He  showed,  by  the  petition  of  Rum- 
sey to  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  of  November 
26,  1784,  that  his  boat  was  to  be  propelled,  by  the 
combined  influence  of  certain  mechanical  powers  thereto 
applied,  the  distance  of  between  twenty-five  and  forty- 
five  miles  per  day,  against  the  current  of  a  rapid  river, 
"  at  no  greater  expense  than  that  of  three  hands." 
Manuel  Eyre,  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  the  As- 
sembly of  Pennsylvania  to  whom  that  application  had 
been  referred,  declared  that  Rumsey  made  no  mention 
of  steam  in  connection  with  his  moving  power.  This 
certificate,  and  that  of  General  Washington,  who  saw 
the  experiment  at  Bath  in  1784,  that  the  machinery 
•was  "  so  simple  that  it  could  be  executed  by  any  com- 
mon mechanic,"  justified  the  inference  and  argument 
that  the  steam-engine,  a  thing  which  Fitch's  own  expe- 
rience had  taught  him  was  most  difficult  to  make,  was 
not  the  motive  power  used  at  that  time ;  and  that  the 
laws  which  Rumsey  had  obtained  in  the  early  part  of 
1785  in  Virginia,1  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania, 
secured  him  his  rights  in  the  pole-boat  only.  This, 
it  was  argued,  could  not  be  otherwise,  inasmuch  as  in 
those  statutes  there  was  no  mention  of  steam,  or  of  a 
steam-boat.  The  passage  of  laws  securing  to  Fitch 
his  rights  in  boats  propelled  by  the  force  of  fire  and 
steam,  without  any  intimation  on  the  part  of  the  various 
assemblies  that  they  conflicted  in  any  manner  with 
Rumsey's  previous  laws,  was  also  relied  upon  as  a 

1  The  title  of  the  law  of  Arirginia  is  "An  act  granting  to  James 
Rumsey  an  exclusive  right,  for  a  certain  number  of  years,  to 
navigate  and  build  boats  calculated  to  work  with  greater  ease 
and  facility  against  rapid  rivers." 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  221 

proof  that  there  was  really  no  interference.  Rumsey's 
pamphlet,  page  4,  furnished  an  additional  argument 
by  the  incautious  confession,  "  I  find  my  idea  of  steam 
was  nearly  matured  before  steam  had  entered  his 
[Fitch's]  imagination,  by  his  confession  to  Governor 
Johnson  :"  viz.,  in  April,  1785.  "  This  is  a  proof," 
says  Fitch,  "  that  when  he  obtained  these  laws,  his 
idea  of  steam  was  not  matured." 

The  application  by  Rumsey  to  Gov.  Johnson  for 
castings  for  a  steam-engine  in  October  or  November, 
1785,  was  alleged  to  be  a  misstatement ;  and  it  was  de- 
clared that  the  engine  said  to  have  been  completed  at 
Fredericktown  in  December,  1785,  was  not  begun  until 
March,  1786.  The  statement  of  Gov.  Johnson,  of 
Maryland,  made  Dec.  18th,  1787,  to  the  above  effect, 
was  controverted,  and  it  was  asserted  that  either  "his 
memory  or  his  candor  was  at  fault."  Fitch  asks  very 
pertinently,  how  the  Governor  could  have  written  the 
favorable  letter  recommending  his  steam-boat,  which 
bears  date  Nov.  25th,  1785 '(see  page  144),  when,  ac- 
cording to  Rumsey's  statement,  his  steam-boat  was 
within  six  days  of  completion.  Gov.  J.  attempted  to 
reconcile  this  disci'epancy  in  his  letter  to  Rumsey,  by 
saying  that  he  felt  himself  bound  to  keep  the  fact  that 
the  latter  intended  to  rely  upon  steam  *'  a,  secret."  He 
says  that  he  kept  it  a  secret  after  the  application  to 
him  to  cast  a  cylinder  [Oct.,  1785],  until  he  found  that 
the  cylinder  cast  at  Fredericktown  "was  a  subject  of 
pretty  general  conversation."  Now,  if  the  entire  steam- 
engine  was  finished  by  the  1st  of  December,  1785,  the 
cylinder  must  have  been  completed  before  Fitch  visited 
Gov.  Johnson  [Nov.  25th],  and  the  obligation  to  se- 
19* 


222  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCE. 

cresy  was  already  removed,  because  the  matter  was 
generally  known.  How,  then,  could  the  Governor  give 
Fitch  the  letter  of  recommendation  of  that  date,  which 
was  Avritten  at  Fredericktown,  where  this  "pretty 
general  conversation"  was  occurring?  In  that  epistle 
he  calls  him  "a  man  of  real  genius  and  modesty."  If 
Fitch  had  then  come  forward  with  a  second-hand  idea, 
the  commendation  of  his  genius  would  have  been  ab- 
surd. Governor  Johnson  also  said  that  Fitch  intended 
to  force  vessels  by  steam  "through  any  kind  of  water," 
a  phrase  believed  to  be  employed  to  distinguish  the 
power  from  that  used  in  Rumsey's  pole-boat,  which 
could  only  go  against  streams.  How,  too,  could  Gov. 
Johnson,  as  an  honest  man,  recommend  Fitch  warmly 
to  the  attention  of  Gov.  Smallwood,  if  he  knew  that 
Ids  steam  boat  conflicted  altogether  with  Rumsey's 
steam-boat  ?  From  these  difficulties  there  seems  no 
escape,  but  by  the  conclusion  that  in  1785  Gov.  J.  was 
either  acting  hypocritically  to  Fitch  and  false  to  Rum- 
s'ey,  or  that  in  1787,  through  a  loss  of  memory,  or  an 
over-anxiety  to  aid  his  friend,  he  made  misstatements. 

In  regard  to  Joseph  Barnes  and  Charles  Morrow, 
the  only  persons  who  assign  to  Rumsey's  experiments 
a  period  anterior  to  the  time  of  Fitch's  trials,  the 
ground  was  boldly  taken  that  both  were  perjured  and 
interested  witnesses,  both  being  partners  of  Rumsey. 
These  persons  differed :  Barnes  declaring  that  all  the 
works  were  on  board  the  boat  in  Dec.  1785,  and  Morrow 
stating  that  although  ready  at  the  time,  the  engine  was 
not  set  up  until  March,  1786,  when  the  first  experi- 
ment was  made. 

In  order  to  sustain  his  positions,  Fitch  produced  the 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  223 

affidavit  of  Frederick  Tombough,  a  partner  of  Mr. 
Zimmers,  coppersmith  of  Fredericktown,  who  declared 
that  the  copper  pipes  for  Rumsey's  steam-boat  were 
made  in  March,  1786,  and  not  in  October  or  Novem- 
ber, 1785.  The  widow  of  Zimmers  declared  that'there 
was  no  account  in  her  late  husband's  books  to  show 
wlten  Rumsey  obtained  the  copper  works,  but  that  she 
knew  that  Michael  Baltzell  turned  the  works  for  the 
first  machinery.  The  latter  certified  that  he  turned  a 
round  piece  of  wood  for  Zimmers  to  round  his  copper 
works  upon,  in  March,  1786.  Jonathan  Morris  certi- 
fied that  in  March,  1786,  he  was  told  that  Zimmers  had 
begun  some  machinery  for  Rumsey,  and  he  (Morris) 
called  at  the  coppersmith's  shop  to  see  it,  but  was  re- 
fused a  sight  of  it,  and  was  told  that  it  was  retained 
"as  Mr.  Rumsey's  secret."  John  Peters  made  affida- 
vit that  he  made  the  tin  work  for  the  engine  at  the 
same  time  that  Zimmers  was  at  the  copper  work,  and 
that  it  was  in  March,  1786.  John  Fry  miller,  who  had 
been  an  apprentice  of  Zimmers,  made  oath  that  Rum- 
sey's work  was  begun  in  the  spring  of  1786.  Joshua 
Minshall,  a  coppersmith  of  Fredericktown,  testified 
that  he  knew  that  it  was  late  in  the  spring  or  summer 
of  1786  before  Zimmers  commenced  the  work  for 
Rumsey.  Christopher  Raborg,  of  Baltimore,  who  was 
engaged  to  make  brass  cocks  for  Rumsey,  which  he  was 
told  were  "for  the  warm  springs,"  said  that,~not  being 
able  to  furnish  them  himself,  he  got  Charles  Weir  & 
Co.  to  complete  them.  He  had  no  charge  by  which  he 
could  ascertain  the  time,  but  believed  it  to  be  in  the 
fall  of  1785.  Rumsey  declared  that  those  cocks  were 
not  for  "the  warm  springs,"  but  for  the  steam-boat. 


224  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

This  latter  statement  was  contradicted  by  Charles 
"Weir  and  Isaac  Causten,  who  composed  the  firm  of 
Chas.  Weir  &  Co.  Weir  stated  that,  from  his  memory, 
he  helieved  it  to  be  in  the  spring  of  1786  that  he  did 
that  work.  Causten  declared  that  the  books  of  the 
firm  had  been  destroyed  by  fire,  but  that  from  some 
loose  papers  in  his  possession  he  found  that  four  brass 
cocks  were  charged  to  Raborg,  on  the  29th  of  March, 
1786.  Thus  it  will  be  perceived,  that  opposed  to  the  state- 
ment of  Morrow  and  Barnes,  that  the  steam-engine  was 
ready  by  December,  1785,  were  the  certificates  and 
affidavits  of  nine  persons,  all  of  whom  declared  that 
the  machinery  was  not  begun  until  March,  1786,  or 
seven  months  after  Fitch  had  applied  to  Congress,  and 
had  spread  the  news  of  his  discovery  through  Pennsyl- 
vania, Virginia,  and  Maryland.  The  testimony  thus 
adduced  was  relied  upon  to  show  that  instead  of  Rum- 
sey's  boat  being  completed  in  December,  1785,  and 
tested  in  1786,  the  steam  machinery  was  not  ready 
until  December,  1786,  and  the  boat  was  not  tried 
until  December,  1787,  more  than  sixteen  months  after 
Fitch's  skiff  steam-boat  was  propelled  on  the  Delaware, 
and  three  months  after  the  successful  experiment  with 
the  larger  boat,  which  was  witnessed  by  the  members 
of  the  Federal  Convention.1 

1  In  reference  to  these  important  points,  Fitch  afterwards,  in 
his  letter  to  the  commissioners  for  granting  patents  in  1791,  uses 
the  following  very  pertinent  and  forcible  argument: 

"  Now  that  he  should  be  so  expeditious  as  to  make  his  pole 
boat,  &  try  its  ineffectual  experiments  from  the  25  March,  1785, 
&  then  to  change  his  plan  to  a  steamboat,  &  bespeak  none  of  his 
\vorks  before  October  or  November,  and  the  first  works  which 
he  bespoke  to  fail  in  the  attempt,  &  afterwards  to  bespeak  others 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  225 

In  Ramsey's  pamphlet,  after  stating  that  he  had 
been  experimenting  upon  steam-engines  in  secret,  and 
after  having  informed  General  Washington  by  letter 
of  10th  March,  that  he  intended  to  apply  both  powers 
(viz.,  steam  and  the  pole  mechanism),  to  a  boat  built 
after  the  model  at  Bath,  he  says,  "I  was  under  many 
disadvantages  arising  from  my  remote  situation,  and 
could  gain  truth  only  by  successive  experiments,  incre- 
dible delays  were  produced,  and  though  my  distresses 
were  greatly  increased  thereby,  I  bore  the  peltings  of 
ignorance  and  ill  nature  with  all  resignation,  until  I 
was  informed  some  dark  assassins  had  endeavored  to 
wound  the  reputation  of  his  Excellency  and  the  other  gen- 
tlemen who  saw  my  exhibition  at  Bath,  for  giving  me  a 
certificate.  The  reflections  upon  these  worthy  gentlemen 
gave  me  inexpressible  uneasiness,  and  I  should  certainly 

and  to  have  all  his  works  completely  fitted  on  Board,  about  the 
beginning  of  Decbr,  and  the  machinery  all  taken  out  &  nothing 
but  the  boat  damiged,  I  say  it  was  very  extraordinary  that  it 
should  take  them  the  whole  years  of  1786  and  1787  to  repair 
the  boat  only  wher  no  other  repairs  were  wanting.  And  it  may 
be  also  noticed  that  the  attempt  of  casting  cylinders  could  not 
be  a  work  of  short  time.  I  never  could  have  an  attempt  made 
in  less  than  five  or  six  weeks.  Yet  they  are  not  obliged  to  be 
as  tedious  in  Maryland  as  in  our  own  furnaces  about  Philadel- 
phia, and  as  October  or  November  is  the  first  that  he  attempts 
to  prove  any  thing  about  steam  engines,  and  when  we  make  a 
short  allowance  for  the  disappointments  of  casting  cylinders,  it 
may  easily  be  conceived  what  time  they  had  to  bespeak  others 
&  get  them  made  &  on  board  by  the  first  of  December. 

This  boat,  which  grew  like  Jonah's  Gourd  the  first  season, 
•withered  down  to  about  one  week's  work  for  the  two  following 
years,  when  it  may  be  reasonably  supposed  that  the  last  part  of 
the  time  there  would  be  more  strenuous  exertions,  as  they  knew 
we  were  going  on  and  was  forward  with  ours." 


226  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

have  quitted  my  steam-engines,  though  in  a  great  state 
of  forwardness,  and  produced  the  boat  for  which  I  ob- 
tained their  certificate  (the  pole-boat),  for  their  justifi- 
cation and  my  own,  although  I  had  actually  made 
several  experiments  on  a  boat  with  steam,  but  Mr. 
Fitch  came  out  at  this  minute  with  his  steam-boat,  as- 
serting that  'he  was  the  first  inventor  of  steam,  and 
that  I  had  gotten  what  small  knowledge  I  had  from 
him,  but  that  I  had  not  the  essentials.'"  He  then 
refers  to  a  letter  from  Daniel  Buckley,  living  near 
Philadelphia,  to  a  gentleman  residing  in  Berkeley 
County,  in  which,  speaking  of  Dr.  McMechen,  partner 
of  Rumsey,  Mr.  Buckley  says  —  "I  am  sorry  he  has 
been  deluded  by  a  person  who  I  have  reason  to  believe 
is  a  deceiver,  as  Mr.  Fitch,  of  Philadelphia,  says  Mr. 
Rumsey  'got  what  small  knowledge  of  steam  he  has 
of  him,' "  &c.  Rumsey  then  proceeds  to  declare  in  his 
pamphlet,  that  as  there  was  no  time  to  lose,  he  "pro- 
ceeded with  ardour  in  perfecting  the  steam-engine,  and 
that  it  is  now  so  far  completed  as  to  render  the  valu- 
able purpose  manifest,"  etc.  It  would  seem  from  this, 
that  it  was  not  until  after  Mr.  Buckley's  letter  was 
written,  that  Mr.  Rumsey  perceived  that  the  critical 
moment  had  arrived,  and  that  it  was  after  that  time 
that  his  steam-boat  was  produced.  Now  arises  the  very 
important  question,  What  was  the  date  of  Buckley's 
letter  ?  It  is  a  curious  thing,  that  no  date  whatever 
is  given  to  it  in  Rumsey 's  pamphlet,  and  the  reader  is 
evidently  expected  to  understand  that  the  letter  was 
written  shortly  after  the  time  that  Barnes  and  Morrow  say 
the  steam  machinery  was  commenced,  viz.,  in  May,  1785. 
In  opposition  to  this  may  be  noticed  the  fact  that  Mr. 


LIFE    OF    JOIIX    FITCH.  227 

Buckley  speaks  of  "Mr.  Fitch,  of  Philadelphia."  It  has 
been  already  shown  that  his  residence  Avas  in  Bucks 
County  during  the  whole  of  1785,  and  it  was  not  until 
the  formation  of  the  steam-boat  company  in  April, 
1786,  that  he  became  an  inhabitant  of  the  city.  Added 
to  this  is  the  certificate  of  Mr.  Daniel  Buckley,  in 
"The  Original  steamboat  supported,"  that  he  does 
not  know  from  his  memory  the  date  of  the  letter  writ- 
ten to  Virginia,  to  which  Rumsey  refers,  but  it  was 
"Avhen  Mr.  Samuel  Briggs  was  making  patterns  for 
Mr.  Fitch's  castings."  The  affidavit  of  Briggs  stated 
that  the  first  patterns  for  castings  made  by  him  for 
Fitch  was  in  the  summer  of  1786,  and  that  Daniel 
Buckley  was  in  his  shop  several  times  during  that  sum- 
mer, so  that  the  "critical  moment"  when  Mr.  Rumsey 
found  it  necessary  for  him  to  go  on  with  his  steam-boat, 
must  have  been  in  1786,  and  not  1785,  and  conse- 
quently the  vessel  could  not  have  been  tried  until  1787. 
In  addition  to  these  arguments,  there  was  a  state- 
ment by  Fitch  that  the  winter  of  1785  was  mild  and 
open,  and  that  there  could  have  been  no  ice  in  the  Po- 
tomac to  interfere  with  Rumsey 's  experiments,  but  that 
in  the  month  of  December,  1786,  the  weather  was  pre- 
cisely such  as  would  have  stopped  the  navigation  of 
the  river.1 

J  On  the  same  subject  he  said  in  his  communication  to  the 
Commissioners  for  Granting  Patents,  which  was -written  in  1790, 
"  I  went  to  Annapolis  and  back  in  the  month  of  January,  1786, 
and  was  not  impeaded  with  ice  going  or  returning,  nor  did  I 
see  any  which  1  beleive  was  an  inch  thick  on  any  of  the  rivers. 
From  these  circumstances  and  other  proofs  I  have  to  offer,  it 
appears  to  me  very  probable  that  they  have  made  a  mistake  of 
one  year."  This  journey  occupied  twenty  days. 


228 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


There  was  another  matter  of  dispute  about  the  pipe 
boiler,  which,  by  persuasion  of  Voight  and  order  of  the 
Company,  was  placed  in  Fitch's  steam-boat  in  the  spring 
of  1788.  Rumsey  declared  that  the  whole  plan  had  been 
taken  from  him,  and  that  it  was  in  the  essentials  similar 
to  his  own.  To  this  Fitch  replied,  that  such  a  boiler  was 
originally  devised  by  himself,  and  described  in  his  pa- 
pers laid  before  the  Philosophical  Society  in  September, 
1785.  In  proof  of  that  fact,  he  exhibited  a  certificate  of 
Dr.  John  Ewing,  dated  Sept.  27,  1785,  stating  that  in 
Fitch's  explanation  of  his  draft  he  revealed  that  "his 
intention  of  conveying  the  waters  from  his  forcing 
pump  in  a  Tube  that  passed  through  the  fire  was,  that 
it  might  thereby  be  set  a  boiling  before  it  entered  the 
Receiver,  lest  the  cold  water  mixing  with  the  boiling 
water  in  the  Receiver  should  im- 
pede the  generation  of  steam." 1 
Upon  this  boiler  Voight  im- 
proved, but  being  fearful  of 
risking  their  success  upon  a  the- 
ory, they  thought  it  best  to  use 
the  boiler  of  the  old  plan. 

The  affidavits  of  Timothy  Mat- 
lack  and  John  Nancarrow  also 
established  this  point.  Mat- 
lack  declared  that  Henry  Voight  had  shown  him  the 
draft  of  a  spiral  tube  for  generating  steam  for  his 

1  The  following  references  to  the  drawing  of  this  pipe-boiler 
(Ramsey's)  are  given  in  an  essay  signed  "  Retrograde,"  in  the 
possession  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society : 

A,  B,  C,  an  iron  pipe  bent  as  represented  by  the  figer. 

D,  F,  a  pipe  of  the  same  eize  with  the  valve  E  on  the  turned 
up  end.  The  end  F  is  braized  to  the  boiler  A,  B,  C,  at  B,  and 


D 


Section  of  Pipe  Boiler. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


229 


steam-boat  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  1786.  Nancar- 
row,  who  was  present,  was  consulted  about  it.  He  ad- 
vised Voight  to  use  the  common  grate  boiler,  and  not 
to  trust  to  uncertain  experiments.  This  advice  was 
taken  at  first,  but  on  the  day  the  affidavits  were  made, 
July  14,  1788,  both  Matlack  and  Nancarrow  inspected 
the  pipe  boiler,  then  set  up  in  Fitch's  steam-boat,  and 
found  it  to  be  the  same  in  principle  as  that  shown  them 


Section  of  Pipe  Boiler. 


In  its  Furnace. 


in  1786.  Voight  also  suggested  the  same  principles, 
viz.,  a  spiral  pipe  or  worm  for  a  condenser.  It  was 

hangs  down  in  a  perpendicular  direction  to  discharge  the  steam 
at  the  valve  E  when  the  machine  is  not  at  work.  This  boiler  is 
set  up  in  a  furnace  of  Brick  and  the  fewel  put  into  the  caveteys 
formed  by  the  crossings  of  the  pipe.  The  water  that  makes  the 
steam  is  forced  in  at  the  end  A  by  a  small  pump. 

The  advantage  of  this  boiler  is,  that  it  presents  a  much  greater 
surface  to  a  small  fire  than  any  other.  The  furnace  is  two  feet 
square  inside.  120  feet  of  pipe,  two  inches  in  diameter,  is  bent 
as  represented  in  the  diagram,  the  surface  of  which  will  be  60 
feet  square,  all  of  which  will  be  in  the  fire,  as  the  fewel  is  to  be 
burnt  in  the  cave  made  by  the  crossing  of  the  pipe,  and  must 
therefore  be  very  hot. 
20 


230  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

thought  that  the  best  way  of  applying  fire  for  evapo- 
ration into  steam,  must  be  also  the  best  way  of  apply- 
ing cold  water  to  condense  steam,  that  is  by  bringing 
the  greatest  quantity  of  fire  into  action  upon  the 
greatest  surface  of  water  —  or  the  contrary.  It  is 
clear  that  Fitch  first  suggested  the  pipe  boiler,  but 
Voight  having  materially  improved  it,  his  partner  re- 
linquished his  rights  in  it  to  him.  Speaking  of  Rum- 
sey's  claim  to  that  invention,  Fitch  said  —  "Whether 
I  have  got  his  mode  of  creating  steam,  or  whether  he 
has  got  mine,  I  do  not  at  present  know.  But  as  both 
Mr.  Rumsey  and  Mr.  Yoight  laid  their  plans  before 
the  Philosophical  Society  the  same  day,  it  will  appear 
how  far  they  are  alike." 

In  reference  to  this  matter,  it  appears  from  the  mi- 
nutes of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  that  on 
the  5th  of  April,  1788,  Rumsey's  pamphlet  was  pre- 
sented. On  the  18th  of  the  same  month  "a  letter 
signed  X.  Y.,  with  a  draft,  model,  and  explanation  of 
an  improved  boiler  for  steam-engines,"  was  laid  before 
the  Society,  as  a  candidate  for  the  Magellanic  premium. 
The  regulations  concerning  the  manner  in  which  this 
prize  was  to  be  awarded,  required  that  the  communi- 
cation should  be  marked  with  a  signature  or  motto,  and 
that  it  should  be  accompanied  by  a  sealed  package 
containing  the  name  of  the  author,  which  was  not  to 
be  opened  but  in  case  of  the  success  of  the  essay.  On 
the  same  evening  "a  letter  was  received  from  Mr. 
James  Rumsey,  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  accompanied 
with  a  drawing  and  description  of  an  improved  boiler, 
for  a  steam-engine;"  also  drawings  and  descriptions 
of  improvements  on  grist-mills,  saw-mills,  and  pumps. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN     FITCH.  231 

On  the  same  evening  "a  letter  was  received  with  draw- 
ings and  descriptions  of  various  improvements  in 
Boilers  for  generating  steam,  from  Mr.  Henry  Voight." 

Ordered,  that  Dr.  Ewing,  Mr.  Rittenhouse,  and  Mr.  Professor 
Patterson,  be  a  Committee  to  examine  the  several  papers  on  the 
production  and  use  of  steam,  and  to  make  report  to  the  society 
thereon. 

May  2,  1788. —  A  letter,  with  a  drawing  and  description  for 
an  improved  boiler  for  Steam  Engines,  was  received  from  a  can- 
didate for  the  Annual  Premium,  under  the  signature  of  "Retro- 
grade." 

A  report  from  the  Committee  to  whom  were  referred  sundry 
papers  by  the  Society  at  their  last  meeting,  was  produced  and 
read,  as  follows :  viz., 

"  Your  Committee  have  examined  the  several  papers  to  them 
referred  by  the  Society  at  their  last  meeting,  except  that 
offered  for  the  Annual  premium  ;  on  which  they  do  not  think  it 
proper  to  give  their  opinion  at  present. 

"  The  principle  which  Mr.  Rumsey  and  Mr.  Voight  seem  to 
have  adopted  in  their  proposed  Boilers  —  to  wit,  to  increase  the 
surface,  and  to  diminish  the  quantity  of  water  exposed  to  the 
action  of  the  fire,  appears  to  your  Committee  in  general  to  be 
just.  But  what  must  be  the  best  application  of  this  principle, 
must  no  doubt  in  some  measure  be  determined  by  actual  expe- 
riments. 

"  The  improvements  wch  Mr.  Rumsey  proposes  in  Dr.  Barker's 
Grist  mill,  that  in  the  saw  mill,  and  that  in  the  raising  of  water 
by  means  of  a  steam  engine,  are  certainly  ingenious  in  theory, 
and  well  deserve  a  full  trial. 

JOHN  EWING, 
DAVID  RiTTENHor/SE, 
ROBERT  PATTERSON. 

The  essays  of  "  Retrograde"  and  "  X.  Y."  remained 
on  hand  for  two  years.  They  were  laid  over  for  con- 


232  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

sideration  at  the  meeting  in  December,  1789,  and 
again  in  1790.  In  the  latter  year,  "  X.  Y.  presented 
a  supplementary  and  explanatory 
paper  to  the  piece  presented  in 
the  month  of  April,  1788,  on  the 
subject  of  an  improved  boiler  for 
steam-engines,  together  with  a  tin 
model."  Afterwards  it  was  re- 
ported that  'both  "  X.  Y."  and 
"  Retrograde"  were  inadmissible, 
in  consequence  of  a  noncompli- 
ance  with  prescribed  rules. 

Donble  Cylinder  Boiler  Grate,  It  will  therefore  be  SCCn  that 
andrurnace.(HenryVoight's.)  j^  y^  and  RuniSey  Openly 

laid  their  plans  of  boilers  before  the  Society  on  the 
same  evening.  Both  at  the  same  time  sought  the 
award  of  the  Magellanic  Gold  Medal,  in  communica- 
tions signed  "X.  Y."  and  "Retrograde." 

The  essay  of  "Retrograde"  remains  with  the  So- 
ciety ;  but  that  of  "  X.  Y."  has  disappeared.  We  are 
enabled  to  make  up  the  deficiency  partly  by  an  extract 
from  the  Columbian  Magazine  for  1789,  page  602.  It 
contains  a  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Society, 
as  follows: 


"April  18,  1788. — Presented,  a  model  drawing  and  descrip- 
tion of  an  improved  boiler  for  steam  engines,  from  a  candidate 
for  the  annual  premium,  under  the  signature  X.  Y. 

"  This  boiler  is  in  the  form  of  a  double  cylinder,  or  one  cylin- 
der enclosed  in  another,  leaving  a  space  between  the  inner  sur- 
face of  the  one  and  the  outer  surface  of  the  other  of  about  two 
inches,  in  which  the  water  is  contained ;  the  cylinders  being 
joined  together  at  both  ends.  Through  the  outer  cylinder  are 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  233 

made  two  holes  (the  one  near  the  top,  the  other  near  the  bottom), 
into  which  are  fastened  two  tubes;  through  the  one  the  boiler  is 
supplied  with  water,  and  through  the  other  the  steam  is  con- 
veyed to  whatever  place  it  may  be  wanted.  The  boiler  is  sur- 
rounded, buth  on  the  concave  and  convex  surfaces,  by  a  double 
cylindrical  grate,  (a  proper  space  being  left  between  it  and  the 
boiler,)  into  which  the  fuel  is  to  be  put.  This  grate  (with  the 
boiler  enclosed  in  it)  is  supported  by  three  strong  iron  feet,  and 
the  whole  surrounded  by  a  cylindrical  furnace,  terminating  in 
a  funnel,  or  large  pipe,  above  the  boiler.  This  furnace  is  pro- 
posed to  be  formed  of  light  wooden  studs,  joined  together  by 
laths,  and  plastered  on  the  inside  with  the  composition  and  in 
the  manner  which  Lord  Cavendish  recommends  to  prevent 
houses  from  burning.  Such  a  furnace  it  is  presumed  would 
have  considerable  advantages  over  one  made  of  iron  or  brick. 
It  would  be  incomparably  lighter,  and  less  expensive;  and 
besides,  being  a  worse  conductor  of  heat,  it  would  more  effectu- 
ally prevent  an  unnecessary  waste  of  it,  while  at  the  same  time 
it  would  be  less  incommodious  to  the  workmen  who  attend  it." 


In  the  same  magazine,  page  674,  is  an  account  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society, 
under  the  date  of  May  2,  1788.  The  presentation  of 
a  communication  under  the  signature  "  Retrograde"  is 
noticed,  and  it  is  added,  "  this  is  precisely  the  same 
with  Mr.  Rumsey's  pipe-boiler,  mentioned  on  the  same 
page."  "  X.  Y."  was  the  signature,  therefore,  of  Henry 
Voight;  "Retrograde,"  of  James  Rumsey. 

The  double-cylinder  boiler  of  Voight  was  an  improve- 
ment, it  was  thought,  upon  the  pipe  boiler  of  John 
Fitch.  The  latter  was  simply  a  collection  of  pipes, 
united  at  the  end  and  bent  together  in  a  small  space, 
crossing  each  other  like  the  worm  of  a  still.  About 
two  hundred  feet  were  thus  brought  together ;  and  the 
fire  being  around  them,  and  the  flames  ascending 
20* 


284  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

through  and  among  them,  caused  a  speedy  creation  of 
steam.  This  was  the  first  tubular  boiler  known  to  have 
been  used  in  any  part  of  the  world.  The  "  improved 
boiler,"  the  plan  of  which  was  laid  before  the  Society, 
was  upon  the  same  principle,  viz. :  the  exposure  of  a 
surface  of  a  small  quantity  of  water  to  the  action  of 
the  fire.  The  double  cylinder  was  a  tube  surrounding 
a  tube.  The  heat  applied  to  the  outer  and  inner  sur- 
faces created  steam  quickly.  The  idea  of  employing 
a  wooden  furnace  to  enclose  the  whole,  even  although 
coated  with  Cavendish's  anti-combustion  composition, 
will  excite  a  smile  at  this  day. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  Battle  of  the  Pamphlets. 
"  The  Original  steamboat  supported  "  was  certainly  a 
very  conclusive  publication ;  and  it  placed  the  claim 
of  Rumsey,  that  he  had  propelled  a  steamboat  before 
Fitch  had  done  so,  in  a  very  doubtful  situation.  It 
proved  very  conclusively  that  if  the  witnesses  relied 
upon  by  the  Pennsylvanian  were  truthful,  there  had 
been  an  ingenious  system  of  "false  datings  "  in  the 
pamphlet  of  the  Virginian. 

The  agents  of  the  latter  did  not  rest  quiet,  but 
brought  out,  towards  the  close  of  the  year,  an  answer, 
which  was  entitled  "  Remarks  on  Mr.  John  Fitch's 
reply  to  Mr.  James  Rumsey's  pamphlet,  by  Joseph 
Barnes,  formerly  assistant,  and  now  attorney  in  fact 
to  James  Rumsey.  Philadelphia  :  Printed  by  Joseph 
James,  Chestnut  street.  MDCCLXXXVIII."  In 
this  publication,  Barnes  applied  himself  assiduously  to 
sustain  the  statements  made  by  his  principal. 

Morrow  was  the  chief  witness  who  fixed  any  time  in 
1785  as  that  when  the  machinery  was  all  on  board 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  235 

Rumsey 's  steamboat ;  and  in  his  first  affidavit  he  de- 
clared that  it  was  ready  by  December,  when  the  ice 
prevented  the  boat  from  being  tried.  He  now  reiter- 
ated that  statement,  and  declared  that  £9  16s  were 
paid  Raborg  for  the  four  brass  cocks,  on  the  29th  of 
October,  1785.  Conrad  Byers  made  oath  that  in 
October  or  November,  1785,  he  put  hands  on  two  brass 
or  copper  cocks  for  Rumsey,  some  springs  for  opening 
and  shutting  them,  two  pistons,  and  some  flanches ; 
and  that  he  understood  that  they  were  for  the  steam- 
boat. Francis  Hamilton  declared  that  in  December, 
1785,  Barnes  and  James  McMechen  brought  a  boat  of 
about  six  tons  burthen,  with  a  variety  of  machinery 
on  board,  to  the  Shenandoah  Falls ;  that  there  were 
copper  cylinders,  or  copper  boilers,  copper  cocks, 
pumps,  etc. ;  that  they  continued  fixing  the  machinery 
until  January  7,  1786,  when,  the  ice  driving  in  the 
river,  they  desisted,  drew  the  boat  up,  took  out  the 
machinery,  and  laid  it  in  his  (Hamilton's)  cellar;  that 
on  the  14th  of  March,  1786,  a  trial  was  made,  when 
the  boat  moved  against  the  current,  though  not  with 
much  success,  owing  to  the  imperfections  of  the  ma- 
chinery, he,  the  said  Hamilton,  with  Barnes,  McMe- 
chen, and  Morrow,  being  on  board.  Mrs.  Zimmers 
now  declared  that  it  was  in  November,  1785,  that  her 
husband  made  "  two  round  copper  things  "  for  Rumsey, 
and  that  they  were  finished  and  taken  away  before 
Christmas  of  the  same  year ;  and  that  she  recollected 
that  certain  brass  cocks  were  fixed  to  them.  Christo- 
pher Raborg  also  changed  his  statement,  and  said  that 
Weir  &  Co.  made  the  brass  cocks  for  him  in  the  fall 
of  1785.  Weir,  too,  declared  that  he  had  made  the 


236  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

cocks  for  Raborg,  and  delivered  them  October  15, 
1785,  having  since  found  a  receipt  which  enabled  him 
to  specify  the  time.  Causten  (or  Cursten)  stated  that 
the  four  brass  cocks  made  for  Raborg  in  March,  1786, 
which  he  spoke  of  in  the  affidavit  furnished  by  him  to 
Fitch,  could  not  have  been  the  same  that  were  made 
for  Rumsey,  which  he  was  persuaded  were  finished  by 
October  14,  1785.  No  retraction  was  obtained  from 
Tombough,  Peters,  Baltzell,  Morris,  Minshall,  or  Fry- 
miller.  So  that,  of  the  ten  who  originally  testified 
that  the  machinery  of  Rumsey's  boat  was  made  by 
Zimmers  &  Raborg  in  1786,  six  persons  still  maintained 
their  original  allegations.  Beside  that,  Barnes  him- 
self furnished  evidence  that  the  boiler  could  not  have 
been  finished  in  December,  1785.  This  was  contained 
in  affidavits  and  statements  by  John  Ritchie,  Michael 
Entler,  and  Jonathan  Osborn,  that  they  prepared  and 
•welded  barrels,  or  "scalps,"  for  the  boiler,  in  January 
and  February,  1786.  William  Askew  testified  that  in 
Philadelphia,  in  September,  1787,  he  had  communi- 
cated to  Voight  that  Rumsey  had  been  making  experi- 
ments, and  that  in  January,  1788,  he  informed  Voight 
of  the  principles  of  the  pipe-boiler,  of  which  the  latter 
professed  to  have  never  heard,  and  the  utility  of  which 
he  doubted.  In  the  written  part  of  the  pamphlet, 
Barnes  admitted  that  work  had  been  made  for  Rumsey 
by  Zimmers  in  March,  1786,  as  was  alleged  in  Fitch's 
statement;  but  it  was  declared  that  those  articles 
belonged  to  a  second  engine.  In  regard  to  the  equi- 
vocal position  of  Governor  Johnson,  it  was  argued 
that,  as  he  was  aware  that  Fitch's  plan  of  a  steam-boat 
differed  from  Rumsey's,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  en- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  237 

courage  both.  The  statements  alleged  to  have  been 
made  in  a  letter  of  Rumsey  to  Washington,  March  10, 
178"5,  that  the  newly  invented  plan  of  propulsion  would 
make  boats  go  against  the  current  of  the  Mississippi 
or  Ohio,  and  in  the  Gulf  Stream,  it  was  said  must 
have  alluded  to  a  steam-boat,  as  the  pole-boat  could 
not  have  made  such  performance.  There  was  also  a 
certificate  of  John  Wilson,  of  Philadelphia,  that  Rum- 
sey had  told  him,  in  1783,  that  he  intended  to  build  a 
boat,  to  go  by  steam ;  and  one  of  like  character  from 
Moses  Hunter,  certifying  to  a  conversation  held  in 
1784. 

To  rebut  these  allegations,  new  affidavits  and  certi- 
ficates were  procured  by  Fitch,  and  published  in  a 
broadside  or  handbill  form.  These  statements  con- 
firmed very  conclusively  the  original  argument,  that 
the  dates  of  Rumsey's  steam  experiments  had  been 
placed  at  earlier  periods  than  when  they  really  occurred. 
The  great  point  in  contest  was,  whether  the  steam  ma- 
chinery of  Rumsey  was  all  finished  and  on  board  the 
boat  at  Sheppardstown  in  December,  1785;  which 
vessel  had  then  been  damaged  by  ice.  Englehart 
Cruze  testified  that  he  had  lived  in  Sheppardstown  in 
May  and  June,  1787,  and  that  Rumsey  had  told  him 
that  his  boat  was  damaged  in  the  winter  before  [1786], 
and  was  repaired  in  the  spring  [1787].  Rumsey  then 
spoke  of  Fitch's  boat,  which  he  said  was  moved  by 
paddles,  and  said  that  a  person  had  been  on  to  Phila- 
delphia, and  had  seen  it.  At  that  time  Rumsey's  boat 
had  the  trunks  for  pumping  water  and  ejecting  it  fixed 
in  it.  Cruze  saw  the  cylinder  which  was  made  at  Fre- 
dericktown.  It  was  eleven  or  twelve  inches  in  diame- 


238  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ter,  and  Barnes  was  then  adding  a  piece  to  make  it 
wider.  Rumsey  said  that  he  had  tried  the  stream  boat, 
[pole-boat,]  and  when  he  found  that  it  would  not  answer 
the  desired  purpose,  had  determined  to  use  steam. 

Benjamin  Harris  declared  that  he  had  worked  for 
Rumsey  in  the  spring  of  1786  for  one  month;  that  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  saw  the  boat  worked  up 
the  river  with  setting-poles,  near  the  shore.  He  saw 
in  it  "  a  wheel  nearly  similar  to  the  flutter- wheel  of  a 
saw-mill."  There  was  a  smaller  wheel  at  the  bow, 
"  about  the  size  of  a  wheelbarrow  wheel,  and  others, 
with  considerable  other  machinery."  These  articles 
belonged  to  the  pole  or  stream-boat ;  there  was  nothing 
like  flutter-wheels  in  Rumsey 's  steam-boat,  which  was 
propelled  altogether  by  a  pumping  apparatus. 

John  Eremere  made  oath  that  he  helped  to  take 
Rumsey's  machinery  on  board  his  boat  in  May,  1786. 
As  far  as  recollected,  it  consisted  of  two  pipes  of  cop- 
per, five  and  a  half  feet  long  and  six  inches  in  diame- 
ter, a  large  boiler  of  copper,  a  large  fan-wheel,  with 
a  spindle  through  both  crosses  at  the  ends,  two  long 
pieces  of  iron,  eight  or  nine  feet,  and  shaped  similar 
to  a  soldier's  cutlass  [supposed  to  be  setting-poles],  a 
number  of  paddles,  or  small  boards  [for  the  stream- 
wheel].  There  was  no  trunk  or  double  bottom.  The 
hold  was  clear  all  the  way  from  stem  to  stern,  like  that 
of  any  other  boat,  and  no  steam  boiler  was  in  it. 

Leonard  Smith  testified  that  he  steered  Rumsey's 
boat  in  May  or  June,  1786,  when  it  was  tried  with 
different  ways  of  working — among  others,  with  setting- 
poles.  Other  machinery  was  put  on  board  afterward, 
and  the  boat  went  up  the  river.  It  had  flutter-wheels 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  239 

and  .pieces  of  iron,  as  described  by  Eremere,  which 
were  for  setting  it  up  against  the  stream.  It  had  no 
trunk  or  double  bottom  at  that  time,  nor  was  such  plan 
then  spoken  of. 

Jacob  Kendel  stated  that  he  had  frequently  seen 
the  tin-work  finished  for  Rumsey's  boat  by  John  Peters, 
which  he  stated  was  made  in  the  spring  of  1786. 
George  Schnetzel  declared  that  he  had  sold  borax  to 
Zimmers  in  February,  1786,  who  told  him  that  he  pro- 
cured it  for  the  purpose  of  soldering  work  for  Rum- 
sey's steamboat ;  which  was  the  first  he  had  heard  of 
such  a  machine.  George  Jacobus  Schley,  of  Frede- 
ricktown,  testified  that  Fitch  had  shown  him  his  model 
of  the  steam-boat  whilst  lodging  at  his  house,  in  De- 
cember, 1785,  on  his  return  from  Richmond.  lie 
never  heard  of  a  steam-boat  before,  or  again  till  the 
spring  of  1786,  when  Zimmers  was  working  for  Rum- 
sey ;  which  was  a  topic  of  common  conversation.  G. 
Schley  confirmed  this  statement.  He  never  heard  of 
a  steam-boat  until  several  months  after  Fitch  was  at 
his  house.  Rumsey's  boat  was  not  talked  about  before 
the  spring  of  1786.  Frederick  Husely  was  often  in 
Zimmers'  shop  in  the  winter  of  1785.  He  never 
heard  of  any  work  for  the  steam-boat  until  the  spring 
of  1786. 

John  Beatty,  Sr.,  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Le- 
gislature at  the  session  of  1785-6,  lived  next  door  to 
Zimmers  in  Fredericktown.  lie  had  no  supposition  at 
the  time  that  Fitch  applied  to  the  Assembly  that  Rum- 
sey  had  invented  a  steam-boat.  He  first  heard  of  it 
in  the  spring  of  1786.  John  Beatty,  Jr.,  and  Zaccheus 
Beatty,  also  neighbors  of  Zimmers,  made  similar 


240  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

declarations.  Abram  Faw,  also  a  member  of  the  Le- 
gislature, and  a  resident  of  Fredericktown,  was  one  of 
the  Committee  on  Fitch's  petition  when  it  was  pre- 
sented. He  knew  of  Rumsey's  pole-boa't  at  that  time. 
He  heard  nothing  of  his  steam-boat  until  the  spring  of 
1786.  George  Kay  first  saw  Rumsey's  boat  in  the 
Potomac  in  1787.  It  had  oars,  and  sweeps,  and  poles, 
to  use  when  the  water  was  shallow.  He  was  told  that 
it  was  a  steam-boat. 

The  evidence  of  witnesses  on  both  sides  may  there- 
fore be  summed  up  as  follows  upon  the  principal  point : 

That  James  Rumsey  had  his  That  James  Rumsey  did  not 

steam-boat  finished  in  Decem-  commence  his  steam-boat  before 

ber,  1785.  the  spring  of  1786. 

CHARLES  MORROW,  FREDERICK  TOMBOUGH, 

JOSEPH  BARNES,  MICHAEL  BALTZELL, 

CONRAD  BYERS,  JONATHAN  MORRIS, 

FRANCIS  HAMILTON.  —  4.  JOHN  PETERS, 

JOHN  FRYMILLER,' 



1  An  attempt  was  made  in  Barnes'  pamphlet  to  cast  a  doubt 
over  Frymiller's  testimony,  by  allegation  that  he  was  "groggy" 
after  he  returned  from  making  the  affidavit  in  favor  of  Fitch, 
which  was  published  in  "  the  Original  steamboat  supported." 
The  material  question  should  have  been,  whether  he  was  sober 
when  he  made  the  statement  under  oath.  Frymiller  was  again 
examined,  and  reiterated  his  original  statement,  and  declared 
that  he  was  not  drunk  at  the  time  of  his  first  affidavit.  The 
aspersions  on  that  young  man  were  made  by  Christopher  Ra- 
borg  and  Christopher  Brudenhart.  The  latter  afterwards  made 
oath  that  he  did  not  know  what  was  in  the  deposition  against 
Frymiller  when  he  signed  it.  Hagner  testified  that  Raborg  de- 
nied that  he  had  ever  made  oath  that  Frymiller  was  "groggy" 
•when  he  made  the  deposition  for  Fitch.  Moale,  who  was  pre- 
sent when  Frymiller  left  the  shop  to  go  before  the  Justice,  de- 
clared that  he  was  perfectly  sober. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  241 

JOSHUA  MINSHALI., 
JOHN  RITCHIE,' 
MICHAEL  ENTLER,' 
JONATHAN  OSBORN,' 
ENGELHART  CRUZE, 
BENJAMIN  HARRIS, 
JOHN  EREMERE, 
LEONARD  SMITH, 
JACOB  KENDEL, 
GEORGE  SCHNETZEL, 
GEO.  JACOBUS  SCHLET, 
G.  SCHLEY, 
JOHN  BEATTY,  SEN'R, 
JOHN  BEATTY,  JUN'R, 
ZACCHEUS  BEATTY, 
ABRAHAM  FAW.  —  21. 

Excluding  the  statements  of  Messrs.  Zimmers,  Chas. 
E.  Weir,  Causten,  and  Raborg,  who  each  told  two  dif- 
fering stories,  and  are  not  therefore  worthy  of  reliance 
on  either  side,  we  find  that  twenty-one  persons  declared 
thatRumsey's  boat  was  not  commenced  until  the  spring 
of  1786,  whilst  but  four,  two  of  whom  were  interested, 
stated  that  it  was  finished  in  December,  1785. 

Let  us,  then,  candidly  review  the  true  condition  of 

1  These  witnesses  were  brought  forward  by  Barnes,  but  they 
proved  that  the  pipe-boiler  was  not  commenced  until  the  spring 
of  1786.  Osborn  and  Entler  declared  that  the  pipes  thus  made 
were  left  in  the  shop  of  Entler,  "more  than  six  months  before 
they  were  used" — Barnes  then  screwed  them  together  and  took 
them  away.  This  circumstance  seems  to  show  that  the  pipe- 
boiler  which  Rumsey  declared  to  be  an  "  original  invention," 
could  not  have  been  fixed  in  his  steam-boat  before  November  or 
December,  1786,  which  agrees  with  Fitch's  belief  that  the  ma- 
chinery was  not  ready  until  that  time,  instead  of  December, 
1785,  as  represented  in  Rumsey's  pamphlet. 

21 


242  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Ramsey's  claims,  as  they  are  to  be  deduced  from  the 
publications,  affidavits,  and  certificates  on  both  sides. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  the  boat 
exhibited  by  him  at  Bath  in  1784,  was  a  stream  or  pole 
boat.  There  is  no  question  that  the  laws  protect- 
ing him  in  his  rights  for  his  invention,  passed  in  1784 
and  1785  by  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Pennsylvania, 
were  not  for  a  steam-boat.  Fitch  made  his  plans  pub- 
lic in  August,  1785,  by  his  letter  to  Congress.  He 
went  among  the  friends,  acquaintances,  and  immediate 
representatives  of  Rumsey,  in  December  of  that  year, 
and  in  January,  1786,  when  he  sought  laws  for  the 
protection  of  his  invention.  At  that  time  the  novelty 
of  his  plan  seemed  to  be  conceded.  It  was  not  hinted  by 
those  who  knew  of  Rumsey's  prior  laws,  and  who  had 
seen  his  boat,  that  Fitch's  method  of  propulsion  was 
an  infringement.  That  the  steam-boat  of  the  latter 
was  completed  in  December,  1785,  seems  to  be  contra- 
dicted by  every  probability.  It  was  not  until  the 
spring  of  1786  that  Rumsey's  intention  to  make  such 
a  boat  was  the  common  topic  of  conversation  in  Frede- 
ricktown.  The  testimony  of  his  own  Avitnesses,  Osborn 
and  Entler,  who  began  the  pipe-boiler  in  February, 

1786,  shows  that  the  work  was  not  taken  away  from 
the  shop  to  be  placed  in  the  boat  until  more  than  six 
months  after  it  was  finished,  say  in  October  or  Novem- 
ber, 1786.     The  boat  could  not  have  been  ready  there- 
fore until  the  latter  part  of  that  year.     It  will  also  be 
recollected  that  the  successful  experiments  of  Rumsey 
were  not  made  until  the  3d  and  llth  of  December, 

1787,  just  about  two  years  after  he  declared  that  his 
boat  was  completed.     It  may  therefore  be  asked  very 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  243 

pertinently,  How  it  was  that  there  was  so  much  delay- 
in  exhibiting  a  machine  which  was  perfect  twenty-four 
months  before  it  was  brought  before  the  public  ? 
During  all  that  time  Fitch  was  working  and  spread- 
ing intelligence  of  his  discovery  abroad:  Rumsey, 
according  to  his  own  declaration,  was  secretly  engaged 
in  perfecting  his  machine,  and  allowing  his  rival  to 
obtain  laws  to  his  detriment,  not  only  in  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  Delaware,  but  in  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  neighborhood  of  Rumsey's  residence. 
These  circumstances  irresistibly  lead  to  the  conclusion, 
that  although  Rumsey  may  have  thought  of  steam  as 
a  propelling  force  in  1783  and  1784  (as  Paine  did  in 
1776,  and  Henry  did  in  1778),  he  placed  no  reliance 
upon  it.  It  was  "an  immatured  idea,"  to  use  the  lan- 
guage attributed  to  General  Washington,  and  it  was 
not  until  John  Fitch  had  excited  public  attention  by 
his  scheme  for  a  steam-boat,  that  Rumsey,  abandoning 
his  failure,  the  pole  or  stream  boat,  determined  to  em- 
ploy steam  as  a  motive  power.  His  boat  in  1786  still 
had  the  flutter-wheels  and  setting-poles  of  the  original 
invention,  as  appears  from  the  affidavits  of  Cruze, 
Harris,  Eremere,  and  Smith.  It  could  not  have  been 
until  1787  that  the  trunks  were  adopted,  and  that 
method  of  propulsion  had  before  been  described  by 
Bernouilli,  Franklin,  Donaldson,  and  Fitch.1 

1  In  regard  to  the  means  of  propulsion  adopted  by  these  rivals, 
it  may  be  observed,  that  they  were  entirely  different.  Rumsey's 
Bteam-engine  was  quite  simple  in  comparison  to  that  of  Fitch. 
It  was  only  a  steam  pump.  The  details  were  similar  to  those 
of  the  pumping  engines,  then  employed  in  England  in  mines, 
and  the  adaptation  of  such  machinery  was  comparatively  easy, 
as  the  details  of  the  machinery  of  the  mining  pumps  furnished 


244  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

We  might  here  conclude  this  part  of  the  suhject, 
but  it  is  necessary  to  notice  what  may  be  termed  the 
official  injustice  of  a  later  generation.  In  1836  the 
heirs  of  Rumsey  applied  to  Congress  for  a  remunera- 
tion, upon  the  allegation  that  their  ancestor  was  the 
inventor  of  the  steam-boat.  A  report  was  made  March 
2d,  1837,  which  was  not  acted  on.  At  the  session  in 
1838-9,  another  memorial  was  presented  by  the  heirs 
of  Rumsey. 

The  subject  was  on  both  occasions  referred  to  a  select 
Committee,  of  which  Mr.  Underwood  was  Chairman. 
The  last  report  was  most  full,  and  of  that  we  shall 
speak.  It  perhaps  would  not  be  unjust  to  say  that  no 
very  minute  investigation  was  likely  to  be  made  by  a 
body  of  politicians  in  regard  to  a  strictly  scientific 
matter.  It  is  probable  that  the  Committee  tried  to 
examine  into  the  subject  before  them  fairly,  but  they 
were  altogether  without  light,  other  than  that  which 
was  furnished  by  the  claimants.  That  the  latter  were 
in  much  ignorance  of  the  real  condition  of  the  claims 
of  their  ancestor,  may  also  be  charitably  suggested. 
The  pamphlets  of  Rumsey  and  Barnes,  and  the  "  Ori- 
ginal steamboat  supported  "  of  Fitch,  were  not  before 
this  Committee.  iNor  did  they  know  that  copies  of 
them  were  in  the  Philadelphia  Library  and  the  library 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society.  The  evidence 
which  was  offered  was  very  meagre.  No  notice  was 

models  for  another.  Fitch's  steam-engine  was,  on  the  contrary, 
new.  It  was  to  perform  work  unlike  anything  done  by  a  steam- 
engine  before.  It  required  originality  in  the  plans,  and  inge- 
nuity to  accomplish  many  requisites  which  had  been  hitherto 
unattempted. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  245 

taken  of  the  pole-boat;  but  on  the  contrary,  it  was 
assumed  that  the  vessel  tried  in  September,  1784,  was 
a  STEAMBOAT.  Nicholas  Orrick  sustained  this  posi- 
tion. He  testified  that  he  was  a  partner  of  James 
Rumsey  in  1783 ;  that  in  the  beginning  of  1784  the 
latter  built  a  small  boat  on  the  Potomac,  and  that  in 
the  autumn  of  that  year  he  went  on  board  and  took 
with  him  his  brother-in-law.  The  machinery  was  ready. 
Orrick  pushed  the  boat  into  the  stream,  and  it  was 
worked  by  steam,  but  not  to  their  satisfaction.  "  The 
public  experiment  was  made  some  years  afterward." 
This  statement  is  no  doubt  incorrect.  Mr.  Rumsey 
never  claimed  that  his  boat  was  moved  by  steam  before 
1787,  when  the  successful  experiments  were  made  in 
December.  Mr.  Rumsey  says  himself,  in  his  first 
pamphlet,  page  4,  in  reference  to  the  boat  of  1784, 
"  In  the  month  of  September,  1784,  I  exhibited  the 
model  of  a  boat  before  his  Excellency,  General  Wash- 
ington, at  Bath,  in  Berkeley  County,  calculated  for 
stemming  the  currents  of  rapid  rivers  only,  constructed 
on  principles  very  different  from  my  present  one.  [1788.] 
Satisfied  with  the  experiment  of  her  making  way 
against  a  rapid  stream  by  the  force  of  the  stream,  the 
General  was  pleased  to  give  me  a  most  ample  certificate 
of  her  efficiency."  The  same  Nicholas  Orrick  made 
an  affidavit,  May  19th,  1788,  published  in  Barnes' 
pamphlet,  page  11,  in  which  he  made  no  reference 
whatever  to  any  trial  of  the  steam-boat  in  1784,  or, 
indeed,  at  any  other  time ;  but  certified  that  he  had 
seen  Rumsey  try  some  experiments  in  January,  1785 ; 
during  which  he  poured  water  into  a  hollow  wooden 
tube,  which,  by  hydrostatic  pressure  drew  up  a  weight, 
21* 


246  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  upon  being  questioned  as  to  its  intention,  he  said, 
"by  that  principle  he  would  make  the  boat  go."  This 
was  all  that  Mr.  Orrick  testified,  at  a  time  when  the 
circumstances  were  fresh  in  his  memory.  The  fair 
presumption  is,  that  fifty  years  afterward  his  recollec- 
tion had  become  so  much  impaired  that  he  had  altoge- 
ther forgotten  the  pole-boat,  of  which  he  made  no 
mention,  and  that  he  confused  a  trial  made  with  it 
with  the  steam-boat  experiments  in  after  years.  This 
affidavit  seems  to  have  been  relied  upon  by  the  Con- 
gressional Committee  without  further  examination  ;  for 
they  assumed  that  the  Virginia  law  of  1784,  and  the 
Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  laws  of  1785,  securing 
Rumsey's  right  to  his  invention  for  propelling  a  boat 
against  a  stream  by  mechanical  powers,  were  really 
granted  for  a  steam-boat  I 

Ashton  Alexander  was  also  examined  before  this 
Committee.  He  declared  that  he  was  on  board  Rum- 
sey's boat  when  it  was  propelled  by  steam  in  1786  or 
1787;  the  latter  time  being  the  most  probable.  A 
letter  was  also  received  from  Henry  Bedinger,  one  of  the 
witnesses  mentioned  in  Rumsey's  pamphlet,  who  testi- 
fied to  his  having  seen  Rumsey's  boat  moved  by  steam 
to  "  Swearinger's  Run ;  where  it  made  a  circuit  and 
returned  —  a  distance  of  about  half  a  mile."  This 
was  no  doubt  the  experiment  to  which  he  testified  by 
certificate,  published  in  Rumsey's  first  pamphlet.  He 
there  fixes  the  date  of  the  trial  on  the  3d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1787.  On  this  incomplete  testimony,  the  Com- 
mittee of  Congress  seem  to  have  been  satisfied  that 
Ruinsey  was  not  only  the  first  who  thought  of  a  steam- 
boat, but  the  first  who  demonstrated  the  feasibility  of 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  247 

the  principle  by  actual  experiment.  They  accordingly, 
by  report  of  February  6,  1839,  so  declared,  and  recom- 
mended that  a  gold  medal  should  be  granted  to  his 
Representatives.1  This  suggestion  was  never  adopted 
by  Congress. 

Enough  has  already  been  given  in  these  pages  to 
show  that  the  Committee  were  mistaken.  As  they 
acted  altogether  ex  parte,  having  nobody  before  them 
to  press  the  claims  of  Fitch,  it  is  not  surprising  that 
they  boldly  attempted  to  settle  so  important  a  matter 
upon  superficial  investigation.  Rumsey  may  have  con- 
ceived the  idea  that  steam  might  be  applied  to  naviga- 
tion in  1783,  but  he  certainly  made  no  effort  to  prove 
its  adaptability  to  such  purpose  until  after  Fitch  had 
publicly  laid  his  claims  before  Congress,  and  published 
the  nature  of  the  principles  which  he  relied  upon  to 
the  world.  It  is  a  question  for  the  reader  to  decide 
upon,  who  made  the  first  successful  experiments.  It 
has  been  shown  that  Fitch  did  so  in  1786,  and  before 
the  members  of  the  Convention  to  frame  the  Federal 
Constitution,  in  August,  1787.  Rumsey  has  produced 
no  evidence  of  a  public  experiment  with  his  steam-boat 
until  December,  1787. 

1  The  first  report,  March  2,  1837,  proposed  to  give  the  repre- 
sentatives of  Rumsey  a  sum  of  money,  the  amount  of  which 
was  not  si 


248  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

THE   SECOND   SUCCESSFUL   STEAMBOAT   OF   1788. 

WHILST  Fitch  was  at  New  York,  the  ever  busy 
Voight  had  been  making  various  improvements  in  the 
mechanism  of  the  boat,  and,  by  the  means  of  rollers, 
had  managed  to  take  off  one-half  the  friction  caused 
by  working  the  oars.  He  also  strenuously  urged  the 
adoption  of  the  pipe-boiler.  This  proposition  was 
warmly  resisted  by  Fitch.  He  had  "  opposed  it  twelve 
manths  before,  and  continued  of  the  same  opinion." 
But  ere  the  matter  had  been  finally  determined  upon, 
"  Rumsey  came  to  town,  and  blazoned  his  pipe-boiler 
in  such  a  light  that  it  made  the  Company  unanimous 
for  it."  Fitch  said  afterward,  "  I  could  not  stand  the 
torrent  about  the  boiler  ;  and  knowing  ourselves  to 
have  the  priority,  and  that  he  must  have  taken  the 
idea  from  Governor  Johnston,  who  had  seen  my  drafts, 
and  not  knowing  but  he  would  gain  the  priority  in  on6 
if  we  did  not  adopt  one,  gave  my  hearty  consent." 
The  old  style  boiler  was  therefore  removed  from  the 
boat,  and  pipes  having  been  secured  and"  properly  bent, 
the  new  boiler  was  set  up. 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  eighteen-inch  cylinder  had 
been  cast,  but  upon  inspection  was  found  to  be  some- 
what defective.  Whilst  the  Company  were  debating 
whether  they  should  take  it  and  line  it  with  copper, 
to  make  it  strong,  the  proprietors  of  the  furnace,  for 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  249 

some  unexplained  reason,  broke  it  up  for  pig-metal. 
This  circumstance  disconcerted  the  shareholders  when 
it  became  known ;  and  as  they  could  not  get  a  cylin- 
der to  fit  their  boat,  they  resolved  to  get  a  boat  to  fit 
their  cylinder.  The  first  boat  used  was  forty-five  feet 
long  and  twelve  feet  beam.  The  width  of  this  craft 
was  believed  to  be  the  greatest  obstacle  to  its  progress  ; 
and  it  was  calculated  that  a  boat  of  eight  feet  beam 
and  sixty  feet  in  length  might  be  easily  propelled  by 
the  old  machinery. 

At  the  same  time,  a  very  important  modification  was 
made  in  the  position  of  the  working  oars.  They  had 
previously  to  this  time  been  placed  at  the  sides  of  the 
boat.  They  were  now  fixed  at  the  stern,  and  pushed 
against  the  water.  The  number  of  paddles  thus  em- 
ployed was  either  three  or  four.  Brissot  de  Warville, 
who  saw  the  boat  in  this  year,  (1788,)  says  there  were 
three  broad  oars.  Rembrandt  Peale  describes  it  (1790) 
with  three  or  four  oars  like  snow-shovels,  which  hung 
over  the  stern.  It  is  very  probable  the  number  was 
changed  during  the  course  of  the  experiments ;  but 
from  thenceforth  the  boats  on  the  Delaware  were  pro- 
pelled by  oars  or  paddles  at  the  stern. 

This  craft  was,  after  many  delays,  completed,  and 
the  machinery  set  up  in  it ;  and  being  lightened  by  the 
pipe-boiler,  which  dispensed  with  three  and  a  half  tons 
of  brick  work,  the  velocity  was  expected  to  be  greater. 
Fitch  says  in  his  journal,  "  We  finally  got  it  to  work 
pretty  well,  and  set  out  upon  a  journey  to  Burlington." 
The  boat  went  very  well  until  it  came  opposite  the 
town.  When  within  twenty  or  thirty  poles  of  the 
upper  wharf,  where  it  was  intended  to  come  to,  the 


250  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

pipe-boiler  sprung  a  leak,  so  that  the  engine  would  not 
work,  and  they  were  compelled  to  come  to  an  anchor. 
Some  of  the  Company  went  ashore  and  represented 
that  they  had  anchored  through  choice ;  hut  upon 
Fitch's  reaching  the  wharf,  he  stated  the  true  facts  of 
the  case.  There  were  on  the  boat  during  this  trip, 
beside  the  inventor  and  Voight,  Richard  Wells,  Thomas 
Say,  and  others  whose  names  are  not  now  known.  It 
is  unfortunate  that  the  time  of  this  long  trip  is  not 
mentioned,  but  we  are  inclined  to  think  it  must  have 
been  near  the  end  of  the  month  of  July,  1788. 

In  a  letter  of  Dr.  Thornton  to  a  gentleman  of  Lon- 
don, published  in  Colden's  Life  of  Fulton,  dated  July 
26, 1788,  he  says,  "  Our  boat  will  be  tried  this  evening 
or  to-morrow.  *  *  Ours  is  moved  by 

paddles  placed  at  the  stern,  moved  by  a  small  steam- 
engine." 

The  boat  fell  down  with  the  tide.  Dr.  Say  and  Mr. 
Wells  were  set  on  shore  on  the  Pennsylvania  side,  to 
find  their  way  home  as  well  as  they  could.  Fitch  and 
Voight  got  their  vessel  to  the  dock  by  the  next  tide. 
Whilst  floating  back  they  applied  for  assistance  to  the 
crews  of  several  river  boats,  who  treated  them  with 
insult  and  derision,  and  seemed  highly  pleased  at  their 
calamity. 

An  account  of  this  voyage  was  given  in  the  Trenton 
Gazette,  July,  1855,  from  the  reminiscences  of  some 
old  persons,  who  remember  to  have  heard  in  their 
youth  of  the  first  long  trip  of  this  steam-boat.  We 
subjoin  an  extract : 

Fitch's  crude  ideas,  his  want  of  experience,  as  well  as  the  low 
condition  of  the  mechanic  arts  at  that  early  day,  subjected  this 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  251 

unfortunate  man  to  difficulties  of  the  most  humiliating  charac- 
ter. Many  regarded  him  as  a  visionary.  His  project  was  dis- 
couraged by  those  whose  want  of  all  motive  for  such  a  course 
rendered  their  opposition  the  more  barbarous ;  while  those 
•whose  fortune  placed  it  in  their  power  to  assist  him  looked 
coldly  on,  barely  listened  to  his  elucidations,  and  received  them 
•with  an  indifference  that  chilled  him  to  the  heart.  By  a  perse- 
verance as  unwearied  as  it  was  ultimately  unrewarded,  his 
darling  project  was  at  length  sufficiently  matured,  and  sixty- 
seven  years  ago  the  first  American  steam-boat  was  seen  floating 
at  the  wharves  of  Philadelphia. 

Public  expectation  was  now  highly  excited,  and  the  general 
curiosity  was  equally  intense.  Many  still  predicted  failure,  and 
but  few  encouraged  him.  Yet  his  success,  amid  all  manner  of 
discouragements,  had  so  far  demonstrated  the  merits  of  his 
plans.  A  reverse,  however,  was  speedily  to  overtake  him.  His 
boat  started  on  her  first  trip  to  Burlington.  Crowds  of  persons 
assembled  at  all  the  prominent  points  along  the  river  to  see  her 
pass,  and  waited  for  hours  to  witness  what  was  then  the  greatest 
wonder  of  the  day.  At  Point-no-point,  now  Bridesburg,  the 
•whole  population  of  Frankford  and  the  upper  end  of  Philadel- 
phia county  were  assembled ;  and  they  saw  the  boat  slowly 
steam  by  them  on  her  upward  progress.  Great,  indeed,  was 
their  enthusiasm,  and  long  and  loudly  did  they  cheer  the  gro- 
tesque exhibition.  Women  waved  their  handkerchiefs  in  appro- 
bation. Batteaux  put  off  from  shore  and  rowed  alongside  the 
steamer,  cheering  the  adventurous  and  now  exulting  Fitch.  At 
Dunk's  Ferry  a  similar  demonstration  took  place  as  the  new- 
boat  steamed  onward.  A  vast  concourse  of  people  had  collected 
there  from  the  interior  of  Bucks  county  to  witness  the  passing 
of  the  new  wonder.  Loud  cheers  greeted  her  as  she  approached, 
and  a  cannon — one  of  those  which  Gen.  Reed  had  vainly  endea- 
vored to  carry  across  the  Delaware  on  the  night  of  Washington's 
masterly  surprise  at  Trenton,  and  which  by  some  oversight  had 
been  left  behind  —  was  hastily  loaded  and  discharged  in  honor 
of  the  discoverer  of  navigation  by  steam.  At  length  she  ap- 
proached her  destination.  So  far,  every  thing  had  gone  on  to 
the  satisfaction  of  Fitch,  whose  crudely  constructed  machinery 


252  LIFE    OF   JOHN    FITCH. 

had  performed  its  office  for  several  hours  in  succession  without 
any  faltering.  He  believed  that  he  had  demonstrated  the  reality 
of  his  anticipations,  and  that  the  share-holders  in  the  company, 
many  of  whom  were  on  board,  would  be  entirely  convinced,  and 
able  to  comprehend  the  magnitude  and  value  of  the  great  dis- 
covery he  had  thus  established.  The  green  bank  at  Burlington 
was  thronged  with  ladies,  who  beheld  with  astonishment  the 

*  *     *     *     apparition  as  it  swung  its  uncouth  oars     *     *     * 

*  yet  steadily  advanced  without  wind  or  sail.     The  town 
wharf  was   also  densely  thronged  with  people.     As  the  boat 
came  opposite  the  wharf  she  rounded  to,  and  even  while  the 
cheering  went  up,  both  long  and  loud,  she  unexpectedly  dropped 
anchor  in  the  middle  of  the  river.     A  batteau  was  sent  off  to 
learn  the  cause,  when  it  was  discovered  that  she  had  burst  her 
boiler! 

There  was  nothing  in  the  character  of  this  accident 
to  discourage  the  projectors.  The  vessel  had  done 
what  had  never  been  done  before  in  any  part  of  the 
world.  It  had  been  impelled,  by  the  force  of  the 
elastic  vapor,  twenty  miles;  and  the  casualty  which 
caused  the  stoppage  was  of  a  trifling  character,  and 
of  easy  repair.  Fitch  and  Voight  set  to  work  to 
tighten  the  boiler  and  make  other  improvements. 
Whilst  engaged  in  these  operations,  their  boat  was 
seen  and  examined  by  the  eminent  French  traveller, 
J.  P.  Brissot  (de  Warville).  The  translation  of  that 
portion  of  his  account  of  his  travels  relating  to  this 
subject  is  very  imperfect  in  the  English  edition  pub- 
lished by  Corbet,  Dublin,  much  being  omitted.  The 
following  has  been  translated  from  the  original,  and  is 
more  full  and  complete : 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  253 

LETTER   XVI. 

INVENTION    FOR    ASCENDING    RIVERS. 

Monday,  Sept  1st,  1788. 
I   went    to   see    an   experiment 

•which  was  being  tried  near  the  Delaware,  on  board  of  a  boat, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  ascend  rivers  against  the  stream. 
The  inventor  was  Mr.  Fitch.  He  had  formed  a  company  to 
carry  out  his  enterprise.  One  of  the  stockholders,  and  his  most 
zealous  advocate,  was  Dr.  Thornton,  of  whom  I  have  already 
spoken.  Mr.  Fitch's  claim  to  this  invention  had  been  disputed 
by  Mr.  Ramsay,  of  Virginia,  and  the  discussion  had  occasioned 
the  publication  of  several  pamphlets. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  the  machine  I  saw  appeared  to  me  to  be 
well  executed,  and  to  answer  its  purpose ;  through  the  agency 
of  fire  it  put  in  motion  three  broad  oars,  the  power  of  which 
must  be  considerable.  I  was  assured  that  it  made  twenty-six 
strokes  per  minute,  with  the  promise  of  sixty.  I  was  told  that 
a  similar  boat,  with  a  capacity  to  transport  ten  to  twenty  tons, 
would  only  cost  from  three  to  four  hundred  pounds,  that  it  could 
be  managed  by  two  men,  one  at  the  helm,  and  the  other  con- 
tinuously employed  at  the  machine,  keeping  up  the  fire,  &c. 

I  had  no  doubt  that,  physically  speaking,  this  machine  would 
produce  a  part  of  the  effects  expected  from  it,  but  I  do  doubt 
whether  it  could  be  useful  in  commerce ;  for,  notwithstanding 
the  assertion  of  the  builders,  it  appeared  to  me  that  the  machine 
demanded  extensive  renewals,  that  it  required  many  men  to  be 
continuously  engaged  about  it,  and  that  consequently  the  ex- 
penses would  be  considerable,  either  for  repairs  which  must 
frequently  result  from  the  rapidity  and  multiplicity  of  the  mo- 
tions, or  for  the  attendants.  I  admitted,  however,  that  if 
economy  could  be  introduced  in  the  renewals,  and  the  move- 
ments could  be  simplified,  this  invention  might  be  useful  in  a 
country  where  manual  labor  was  dear,  and  where  the  rivera 
were  not,  as  in  France,  accessible  for  horses  and  for  men,  who 
take  the  place  of  machines  for  ascending  rivers. 

This  idea  consoled  Dr.  Thornton,  who,  I  saw,  was  assailed 
with  jokes  on  account  of  this  STEAM-BOAT. 

22 


254 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


He  was  annoyed  by  these  pleasantries,  which  appeared  to  me 
to  be  very  much  out  of  place.  The  obstacles  which  genius  is 
everywhere  obliged  to  surmount,  are  so  considerable,  the  incen- 
tives are  so  slight,  and  the  necessity  in  America  of  supplying 
the  deficiency  of  manual  labor  seemed  to  me  so  clearly  demon- 
strated, that  I  could  not,  without  indignation,  see  the  Americans 
retarding  by  their  sarcasms  the  generous  efforts  of  one  of  their 
fellow-citizens.  —  A  recent  journey  in  the  United  States  of  North 
America,  made  in  1788  by  J.  P.  Brissot(  Warville).  Paris,  1791. 

In  a  note  on  the  same  page,  Mr.  Brissot  added  : 
"  Since  this  letter  was  written,  I  have  made  inquiries  about 
Mr.  Ramsay's  invention.     I  saw  him  personally  in  England. 


Jas.  Rumsey's  Steam-boat  — Ktiglish  patent 

He  is  a  man  of  great  genius  ;  and  from  the  explanations  he  gave 
me,  it  appeared  that  his  invention,  although  starting  from  the 


Rumsey's  Steam-boat  —  English  patent. 

same  principle,  is  very  different  from  Mr.  Fitch's  in  its  means 
of  execution.     Mr.  Ramsay  at  that  time  (February,  1789)  pro- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  255 

posed  to  build  a  boat  •which  would  go  to  America,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  the  fire  pump  (pompe  a  feu)  alone  and  without  sails  ; 
he  was  not  to  employ  more  than  fifteen  days  in  this  trip.  I  see 
•with  pain  that  he  has  not  yet  realized  his  project,  which,  if  it 
•were  practicable  and  were  carried  into  execution,  would  intro- 
duce into  commerce  as  great  a  change  as  the  discovery  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope." 

In  another  note,  Mr.  Brissot  added  what  he  had  sub- 
sequently heard  in  Europe  about  the  performances  of 
Fitch's  boat : 

"There  have  been  several  experiments  made  with  this  STEAM- 
BOAT. Mr.  Fitch  on  one  occasion  ran  twenty  miles  in  three 
hours ;  with  the  tide  in  his  favor,  he  made  eight  miles  an  hour. 
This  artist  is  unceasingly  engaged  in  perfecting  his  boat.  He 
is  a  modest  and  estimable  man. 

"  In  looking  over  the  American  journals  of  1790,  I  see  with 
pleasure  that  Mr.  Fitch  by  no  means  abandons  his  invention.  I 
learn  that  on  May  llth,  1790,  he  made  the  run  from  Philadel- 
phia to  Burlington  in  three  hours  and  a  quarter,  having  the 
wind  against  him  and  the  tide  in  his  favour.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances he  ran  seven  miles  an  hour." 

The  efforts  made  by  Fitch  and  Voight,  after  the  ac- 
cident, to  render  the  boiler  tight  and  to  remedy  other 
defects,  were  not  in  vain.  The  laborers  were  at  length 
rewarded  for  their  patience  by  a  success  which  was 
flattering  to  their  delayed  hopes.  It  was  not  very  long 
after  the  first  trip  to  Burlington  ere  the  steam-boat 
was  again  seen  by  the  inhabitants  of  that  quiet  village. 
"Shortly  after  that,"  said  Fitch,  referring  to  the  pre- 
vious disaster,  "we  went  to  Burlington  and  back  under 
the  auspicious  guidance  of  the  God  of  nature."  The 
feat  now  seemed  to  have  been  accomplished.  The  boat 
made  several  voyages  to  Burlington  and  returned  with- 
out any  accident.  On  the  12th  of  October,  1788, 


256  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

there  were  thirty  passengers  on  board,  and  they  were 
taken  from  Philadelphia  to  Burlington  (estimated 
twenty  miles)  in  three  hours  and  ten  minutes,  with  a 
tide  which  set  at  the  rate  of  two  miles  an  hour.  A 
certificate  of  this  fact  was  given  by  Andrew  Ellicott, 
Richard  Chase,  John  Poor,  and  John  Ely.  On  the 
16th  of  October,  1788,  Jno.  Ewing,  Robert  Patterson, 
Andrew  Ellicott,  John  Smilie,  David  Redick,  James 
Hutchinson,  Timothy  Matlack,  Chas.  Pettit,  J.  B.  Smith, 
and  David  Rittenhouse  were  on  board,  and  Capt.  John 
Heart,  of  the  1st  U.  S.  Infantry,  certified  that  "the 
boat  moved  at  the  rate  at  least  of  four  miles  an  hour," 
and  that  he  was  "fully  convinced  that  the  same  force 
applied  to  a  boat  would  be  sufficient  to  carry  it  against 
the  most  rapid  waters  between  the  mouth  of  French 
Creek  on  the  Allegheny,  and  the  mouth  of  the  Mus- 
kingum  upon  the  Ohio,  and  that  on  an  average  it  would 
carry  it  between  three  and  four  miles  an  hour  on  any 
of  the  Western  waters." 

But  this  rate  of  speed  did  not  satisfy  the  projector 
or  his  associates.  It  was  thought  that  the  boat  ought 
to  be  able  to  go  from  Philadelphia  to  Trenton  (then 
estimated  thirty-eight  miles)  in  five  hours,  to  be  an 
object  worthy  of  prosecution  upon  the  Delaware.  The 
patience  of  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Company 
became  exhausted,  and  they  withdrew  from  the  con- 
cern. To  add  to  the  troubles  of  the  inventor,  his  tried 
companion,  Voight,  also  abandoned  the  work,  urging 
the  duty  which  he  owed  his  family,  whose  interests  had 
been  neglected  whilst  he  was  engaged  upon  the  boat. 
In  this  distressing  and  dispiriting  state  of  affairs,  the 
perseverance  and  energy  of  the  unfortunate  man  did 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  257 

not  fail.  He  determined  to  again  endeavor  to  arouse 
an  interest  among  the  shareholders  by  attempting  to 
form  a  new  and  auxilliary  company.  For  this  purpose 
he  drafted  proposals,  and  furnished  an  estimate  of  the 
probable  cost  of  perfecting  the  machinery,  so  as  to 
make  the  boat  go  faster,  together  with  a  calculation 
of  the  receipts.  Those  papers  were  as  follows : 

PHILAD.,  5th  Dec.,  1788. 
PROPOSAL  OF  JOHN  FITCH  TO  THE  STEAMBOAT  Co. 

Whereas,  from  the  great  dificulties  that  have  arrisen  in  the 
execution  and  compleation  of  the  Steam  Boat  beyond  our  first 
calculation,  and  the  present  improbabilities  of  raising  sufficient 
supplies  from  the  present  Co.  —  Therefore  makes  the  following 
proposals,  —  That  the  scheme  be  divided  into  Eighty  shares, 
forty  of  which  shares  to  be  given  to  subscribers,  who  shall  take 
the  present  boat,  with  all  its  appurtenances,  and  put  a  Boat  into 
use  as  soon  as  possible  by  the  aid  of  steam,  —  as  soon  as  this 
purpose  shall  be  effected,  and  the  Boat  shall  earn  £100  neat 
profits  from  the  first  running,  then  the  original  present  owners 
shall  be  entitled  to  draw  equal  to  the  shares  they  will  then  hold 
of  the  s"  £100,  and  of  all  future  boats  and  emoluments,  pro- 
vided they  bear  the  then  equal  proportion  of  all  future  expenses, 
&c.  &c.  JOHN  FITCH. 

ESTIMATE. 

The  resistance  -which  Water  gives,  is  as  the  square  of  the  Ve- 
losity  with  which  any  Body  acts  upon  it.  If  Water  should  re- 
sist a  Boat,  so  as  it  would  take  4  men  to  row  it  2  miles  per  hower, 
it  would  require  16  men  to  row  the  same  Boat  4  miles  per  hour, 
and  36  men  to  row  it  C  miles  per  hour.  Then  suppose  our  Boat 
went  at  the  rate  of  4  miles  pr  hour,  the  resistance  of  the  water 
vre  may  call  16  ;  Then  as  a  12  inoh  cylinder,  or  144  Circular 
Inches,  is  to  16,  so  is  an  18  inch  cylinder,  or  324  Circular  inches, 
to  36 ;  the  square  root  of  16  is  4,  the  square  root  of  36  is  6 ; 
consequently  if  our  Boat  went  4  miles  pr  hour  with  a  12  inch 
cylinder,  an  18  inch  cylinder  working  with  equal  force,  accord- 
ing to  its  size,  would  carry  the  same  Boat  6  miles  pr  hour. 

22*  :.  \-\ 


258  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Then  suppose  the  tide  to  help  us  8  miles  between  this  and 
Trenton,  it  would  carry  the  Boat  to  that  place  in  5  hours. 

It  may  be  relied  upon,  that  this  may  be  done  from  what  skill 
we  have  already  obtained,  and  if  we  can  get  Mr.  Hall  to  assist, 
probably  a  great  deal  more,  which  I  believe  would'  answer  every 
purpose  which  we  have  calculated  for.  But  every  individual  is 
as  capable  of  jndgeing  as  myself,  whether  passengers  would 
prefer  going  in  a  Boat  in  five  hours  at  5s.  or  in  a  waggen  in  four 
hours  for  10.  If  they  would  prefer  the  Boat,  and  the  number 
of  passengers  to  Trenton  may  be  estimated  at  8  per  day,  at  5, 
and  12  per  day  at  Bordentown  and  Burlington  at  3  9d  each, 
going  and  coming,  it  would  amount  to  £8.10.0  per  Day,  and  if 
•we  should  allow  30s.  per  day  for  expences,  the  clear  profits 
would  be  £7:0:0  per  day.  This,  in  250  days  in  a  year,  would 
be  £1750,  which  will  justify  the  continuance  of  the  experiment. 

The  following  is  an  estimate  of  the  expence  of  compleating 
the  Boat.  —  A  Boiler  supposed  to  weigh  600  Ib.  at  3  is  £90.  A 
cylinder  bored  compleat  for  the  works,  £50,  cocks  and  tubes  at 
£30,  workmanship  for  hands,  &c.,  £100,  Extra  expences  £100, 
in  all  £400.  This,  it  appears  to  me,  is  more  than  it  can  cost, 
and  40  shares  at  £10  each  is  £400.  These  calculations  are  the 
most  unfavorable  that  can  be  made. 

The  proposal  and  estimate  were  shown  to  some  of 
Fitch's  best  friends;  and  although  ,£1600  had  already 
been  spent  in  the  enterprise,  forty  new  shares,  at  <£10 
each,  were  subscribed  for,  and  it  was  decided  to  pro- 
cure an  eighteen-inch  cylinder  in  time  to  prosecute  the 
work  in  the  spring  of  1789.  The  humiliation  which 
the  projector  was  compelled  to  suffer  whilst  prose- 
cuting this  business,  is  thus  feelingly  told  by  himself 
in  his  MS.  Journal. 

"  But  the  former  imbarrassments,  which  I  have  mentioned, 
were  but  inconsiderable  when  compaired  with  other  matters, 
considering  the  indignities  offered  me  by  my  best  friends  and 
Patrons,  who  in  many  instances  treated  me  more  like  a  slave 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  259 

than  a  freeman,  whilst  I  was  in  the  most  excrutiating  tortures 
of  devising  plans  of  compleating  my  undertaking,  which  was 
far  beyond  my  a)>ilities.  Not  only  that,  but  I  was  obliged  to 
collect  moneys  from  my  best  friends,  who  rather  esteemed  it  as 
moneys  levied'and  collected  by  me,  and  extorted  from  them  from 
a  mere  point  of  their  honour ;  which  ever  has  been  more  severe 
to  my  feelings  than  any  thing  which  I  ever  expearenced  before. 
Not  only  that;  I  have  been  continually  tiezed  with  duns  from 
our  workmen,  and  imbarrassed  with  Constables,  for  debts  ;  and 
continually  so  bare  and  mean  appearance,  that  every  decent 
man  must  and  ought  to  dispise  me  from  my  appearance.  Not 
only  that,  but  dare  not  scarsley  show  my  face  in  my  own'  Lodg- 
ings ;  which  oceationed  me  never  to  remain  in  them  longer  than 
I  could  with  the  greatest  expedition  swallow  down  my  food; 
which  always  in  the  evening  drove  me  of  to  a  tavern,  and,  altho 
I  always  kept  good  hours  at  my  return,  always  drove  me  to  my 
bead.  Not  only  that ;  altho  they  were  worthy,  respectible 
people,  I  dare  not  find  fault  with  any  thing  which  I  might  with 
propriety  do  could  I  have  paid  them  weekely,  but  was  obliged 
to  suffer  just  indignities  from  my  lanlord  and  be  hcnpicked  by 
the  women.  Added  to  all  this,  there  was  the  Most  Powerful 
combination  against  me,  who  thought  that  they  could  not  serve 
God  or  themselves  better  than  saying  every  illnatured  thing  they 
could  of  me ;  which  made  me  heartily  curse  my  Barberus  Cap- 
ture for  staying  the  savage  Blow." 

The  names  of  the  members  of  this  new  Company 
have  not  been  preserved.  It  is  likely  that  some  of  the 
first  patrons  of  the  scheme  were  in  it.  We  have  given 
the  names  of  the  Company  of  1787  in  a  former  page. 
There  are  known  to  have  been  connected  with  the  ex- 
periments before  they  ceased  entirely,  in  addition  to 
the  gentlemen  already  mentioned,  Dr.  William  Thorn- 
ton, Isaac  W.Morris,  Samuel  Wetherill,  Jun.,  Richard 
Hill  Morris,  Judge  James  Wilson,  Captain  John  Heart, 
Wood  Lloyd,  Francis  Wit,  Stacy  Potts,  and  Robert 


260  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Scott.  Colonel  Coxe,  of  Burlington,  gave  twenty 
dollars  toward  the  experiment,  and  Robert  Morris 
fifty  dollars  ;  but  the  two  latter  were  not  stockholders.1 

1  DR.  WILLIAM  THORNTON  lived  in  1793  in  Callowhill  Street, 
near  the  Ridge  Road.  He  was  an  ingenious  and  scientific 'man, 
a  member  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  and  of  the 
Library  Company  of  Philadelphia.  He  drafted  the  plan  of  the 
present  building  occupied  by  the  Library.  He  was  the  first 
Superintendent  of  the  United  States  Patent  Office ;  a  position 
which  he  held  for  many  years.  Dr.  Thornton  was  one  among 
the  few  to  whom  the  American  Philosophical  Society  have 
awarded  the  Magellanic  gold  medal.  It  was  voted  to  him  in 
1792,  far  an  Essay  on  the  written  elements  of  language,  signed 
"  Cadmus."  ,  " 

ISAAC  W.  MORRIS,  brewer,  lived  in  1794  at  No.  65  South 
Second  Street,  and  had  his  brewery  at  No.  4  Pear  Street. 

SAMUEL  WETHERILL,  JR.,  druggist,  resided  in  1791  at  No.  9 
South  Alley.  [Commerce  Street.] 

RICHARD  HILL  MORRIS,  merchant,  had  his  store  in  1794  at 
135  High  Street,  and  his  dwelling  at  113  Walnut  Street. 

The  HON.  JAMES  WILSON,  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Pennsylvania,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was 
born  in  Scotland,  about  1742.  He  studied  law  at  Philadelphia, 
under  the  direction  of  John  Dickenson,  author  of  "The  Farmer's 
Letters."  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congress  of  1775,  1776, 
and  1777,  a  member  of  the  Convention  to  form  a  State  Consti- 
tution for  Pennsylvania,  and  of  the  Convention  to  form  a  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States.  In  1789,  he  was  appointed  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Pennsylvania ;  and  in  1797, 
Professor  of  Law  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1785, 
he  lived  in  Chestnut  Street,  between  Fourth  and  Fifth,  and  in 
1791,  at  No.  230  High  Street. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  HEART  was  an  officer  of  the  Army  of  the 
United  States.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  citizen  of 
Philadelphia. 

WOOD  LLOYD,  tailor,  kept  his  shop  in  1791  at  No.  32  South 
Water  Street. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  261 

To  increase  his  troubles,  Rumsey,  backed  by  a  strong 
Virginia  interest,  was  now  contesting  his  right  to  his 
invention.  An  association  called  the  "  Rumseian  So- 
ciety" was  formed  in  Philadelphia  during  the  summer 
of  1788,  to  forward  the  pretensions  of  the  Southern 
claimant.  Although  Fitch  had  notoriously  shown,  in 
the  early  experiments  of  1786  and  1787,  that  it  was 
possible  to  propel  vessels  by  his  plan,  the  persons  who 
took  up  the  cause  of  Rumsey  were  disposed  to  look 
upon  their  own  townsman  with  contempt.  Of  this 
Society  Dr.  Franklin  was  a  promoter  ;  and  it  is  not  out 
of  place  to  say  here  that  his  conduct  to  Fitch  from  the 
first  promulgation  of  his  plan  of  a  steamboat  seems  to 
have  been  ungenerous.  In  patronising  Rumsey's 
scheme  of  a  pumping  boat,  Dr.  Franklin  was  doing  all 
that  was  in  his  power  to  demonstrate  the  superiority 
of  his  plan  of  propulsion  over  that  of  Fitch ;  and  it 
needs  but  little  acquaintance  with  the  springs  of  human 

FRANCIS  WIT  (the  name  is  so  spoiled  by  Fitch)  was  most  pro- 
bably Francis  White,  "  Dealer  in  public  securities ;"  or,  in 
modern  parlance,  a  broker.  lie  brought  out  the  first  City  Di- 
rectory, in  1785.  Captain  John  Macpherson  also  published  a 
directory  in  the  same  year.  Mr.  White,  in  1785,  lived  on  Chest- 
nut, between  Second  and  Third  Streets ;  and  in  1791,  at  208 
High  Street. 

STACY  POTTS  was  a  respectable  citizen  of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  who 
very  early  withdrew  from  the  Steam-boat  Company. 

ROBERT  SCOTT,  engraver,  resided  in  1785  at  the  corner  of  Se- 
cond and  Chestnut  Streets,  and  in  1791,  at  106  Chestnut  Street. 
COLONEL  JOHN  COXE,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  was  father-in-law  of 
John  Stevens. 

The  HON.  ROBERT  MORRIS,  Senator  from  Pennsylvania,  and 
BO  well  known  as  the  great  merchant  and  financier  of  the  Revo- 
lution, lived  in  1791  at  the  south-east  corner  of  Sixth  and  Market 
Streets,  in  a  house  which  once  belonged  to  the  traitor  Galuway. 


262  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

action  to  discover  a  cause  for  his  conduct.  The  Rum- 
seian  Society,  in  addition  to  Franklin,  was  composed 
of  the  following  members :  Arthur  St.  Clair,  William 
Bingham,  Benjamin  Wynkoop,  James  Tunchard,  John 
Jones,  Levi  Hollingsworth,  Joseph  James,  John  Wilson, 
George  Duffield,  Reed  &  Forde,  Woodrop  Sims,  Joseph 
Sims,  William  Redwood  &  Son,  William  Barton,  Ri- 
chard Adams,  Samuel  Magaw,  Adam  Kuhn,  Miers 
Fisher,  Charles  Vancouver,  Burgis  Allison,  John 
Vaugh,  John  Ross,  William  Turner.  (See  Golden 's  Life 
of  Fulton.) 

It  is  also  certain  that  some  of  the  opponents  of  Fitch 
were  incensed  against  him  upon  political  grounds.  Dr. 
Rush,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Lettsom,  of  London,  intro- 
ducing Rumsey  to  his  attention,  calls  Fitch  "a  person 
in  this  city,  remarkable  for  his  licentious  opposition  to 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States."  Fitch  was  an 
anti-Federalist. 

This  Society  sent  Rumsey  to  London  early  in  1788, 
to  secure  patents  there.  Encouraged  by  the  associa- 
tion, Joseph  Barnes,  who  in  the  absence  of  Rumsey 
was  his  attorney  in  fact,  began  a  very  vigorous  attack 
upon  the  rights  of  Fitch,  which  had  been  already  se- 
cured by  law.  The  first  movement  was  made  in  the 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  ;  where  a  petition  in  behalf 
of  the  Virginian  was  presented  in  the  beginning  of 
September,  1788.  Remonstrances  by  Fitch,  as  inventor 
of  the  steam-boat,  and  of  Voight,  as  owner  of  the 
right  to  the  pipe-boiler,  were  read  on  the  6th.  The 
matter  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  seven  members, 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Wynkoop,  Chapman,  Loller, 
Ritteuhouse,  Findley,  Kennedy,  and  Willing.  Miers 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  263 

Fisher,  a  laAvyer  of  Philadelphia,  represented  Rumsey, 
and  Colonel  Richard  Wells  supported  the  claims  of 
Fitch.  The  parties  had  a  full  hearing,  which  lasted 
five  days.  The  Committee  reported  as  follows : 

"That  having  examined  the  said  Petitions,  and  with  great 
attention  heard  the  parties  in  support  of  their  respective  claims, 
are  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  law  which  grants  to  John 
Fitch  an  exclusive  Right  in  all  Boats  propelled  by  Fire  and 
Steam,  hath  not  only  secured  to  him  and  his  Heirs,  &c.,  the 
exclusive  right  to  the  method  he  had  then  invented  for  the  pur- 
pose of  applying  the  powers  of  Fire  and  Steam  in  order  to  propel 
Boats,  but  also  whatever  improvements  he  may  make  himself, 
or  obtain  from  others,  during  the  time  limited  by  said  law ;  and 
however  improper  or  extensive  a  law  may  be  in  its  principles, 
yet,  Considering  that  upon  the  faith  of  the  sd  law  several  Citi- 
zens have  spent  much  labour  and  money,  for  which  they  are  not 
reimbursed,  and  notwithstanding  the  Legislature  may  have  a 
right  to  repeal  Laws  that  convey  grants  highly  injurious  to  the 
public  welfare,  yet  the  re-assuming  such  legislative  grant  ought 
never  to  be  done  unless  upon  the  most  pressing  necessity." 

The  Committee  therefore  reported  that  the  petition 
of  Rumsey  ought  to  be  granted,  except  so  far  as  it  re- 
spected "the  propelling  of  Boats  by  the  force  of  fire 
or  steam."  They  also  passed  a  resolution  that  the 
prayer  of  Henry  Voight  could  not  be  granted.1 

The  next  hostile  demonstration  was  made  in  Virgi- 
nia, where  Charles  Morrow  presented  a  petition  on  be- 
half of  Rumsey,  praying  that  the  act  securing  the 
rights  of  John  Fitch  should  be  repealed.  The  latter 
being  unable  to  attend  the  assembly,  transmitted  a  let- 
ter, petition,  and  argument  against  the  proposed  move- 

1  It  is  presumed  that  Voight' s  claim  was  opposed  by  Fitch,  as 
the  original  inventor  of  the  pipe-boiler.  The  two  were  not  then 
in  partnership. 


2G4  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ment.  The  papers  were  referred  to  Messrs.  Trage, 
Henry,  Randolph,  Carlins,  Bland,  White,  David  Stuart, 
Carrington,  and  King,  who  reported  November  21st 
that  the  act  in  favor  of  Fitch  ought  to  be  repealed. 
This  report  was  rejected  by  the  House,  ayes  15,  nays 
100. 

From  Virginia  the  indefatigable  Barnes  transferred 
the  contest  to  New  York.  Petitions  were  presented  in 
behalf  of  ^Rumsey's  steam-pump,  steam-boat,  saw-mill, 
and  other  inventions.  At  the  same  time  John  Stevens, 
claiming  to  be  the  inventor  of  a  steam-boat  which 
did  not  interfere  with  the  others,  also  asked  for  legis- 
lative protection.  Fitch  protested  against  these  pro- 
positions by  letter  and  remonstrance,  which  were  pre- 
sented in  December.  The  Committee,  Messrs.  G.  Liv- 
ingston, Havens,  and  Van  Cortland,  reported  that  the 
act  securing  the  rights  of  Fitch  was  conceived  in  such 
general  terms  that  it  would  be  improper  to  vacate  it 
without  giving  both  parties  a  hearing ;  that  they  were 
of  opinion  that  Stevens'  plan  did  not  differ  much  from 
Rumsey's,  and  that  both  differed  from  that  of  Fitch, 
but  that  there  was  nothing  in  Fitch's  act  which  would 
prevent  the  Legislature  from  securing  to  Rumsey  "the 
exclusive  right  of  generating  steam  by  a  pipe-boiler." 
They  therefore  recommended  that  a  bill  should  be 
brought  in  to  secure  him  in  that  invention,  and  in  the 
others  which  were  not  contested.  This  report  was  pre- 
sented December  23d. 

In  New  Jersey  a  bill  to  give  Rumsey  exclusive  rights 
was  now  presented.  A  remonstrance  was  prepared, 
but  the  Assembly  laid  the  matter  on  the  table  until  the 
next  session.  The  Legislature  of  Delaware  was  also 


LIFE    OF    JOHNFITCH.  265 

besieged  by  the  same  influence,  but  with  no  better  suc- 
cess. 

These  failures  did  not  discourage  the  members  of  the 
Rumseian  society.  They  made  a  new  effort  before  the 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  in  the  spring  of  1789,  A 
scheme  was  suggested  for  the  appointment  of  commis- 
sioners to  grant  patents  on  behalf  of  the  State.  The 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  were  consulted  as  to  its 
legality.  Fitch,  who  saw  in  the  measure  an  attempt 
to  injure  him,  protested  against  it  on  the  llth  of  March. 

The  Committee  was  composed  of  Messrs.  Lewis, 
Clymer,  Downing,  Nevil,  and  Hoge. 

The  question  proposed  to  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  was  — 

"  Can  this  House,  consistent  with  the  principles  of  law  and 
justice  and  the  Constitution  of  this  State,  enact  a  law  upon  the 
principles  reported  before  this  House,  in  the  case  contested  be- 
tween John  Fitch  and  James  Rumsey  ?" 

The  matter  was  argued  by  Miers  Fisher,  a  lawyer 
for  James  Rumsey,  and  by  Mr.  Wells  for  John  Fitch. 
The  opinion  of  Chief  Justice  McKean  was  evidently 
biassed  by  prejudice.  He  argued  that  if  Fitch's  law 
was  obtained  by  deception,  it  might  be  repealed.  He 
suggested  that  it  was  possible  that  there  was  deception, 
therefore  the  Legislature  had  the  power  of  repeal. 

Judge  Bryan  was  opposed  to  disturbing  the  law. 
He  referred  to  the  English  laws  granting  monopolies, 
and  showed  that  they  had  been  sustained  for  the  rea- 
son that,  having  been  passed,  it  was  better  to  abide  by 
them  than  disturb  the  course  of  law,  as  it  was  a  mis- 
chievous thing  for  government  to  have  its  faith  sus- 
pected. 

23 


266  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

A  third  Judge  gave  no  written  opinion.  The  Com- 
mittee, upon  consultation,  again  reported  in  favor  of 
Fitch,  by  declaring  that  the  passage  of  a  patent  law 
by  the  State  was  inexpedient.  The  matter  was  post- 
poned, but  towards  the  end  of  the  session  Mr.  Fitzsi- 
mons  presented  a  bill  to  secure  Rumsey's  right  to  a 
steam-boat,  which  was  rejected. 

Fitch,  notwithstanding  his  poverty  and  distress,  was 
not  humbled  by  his  misfortune,  but  was  bold  in  defence 
of  his  invention.  He,  therefore,  notwithstanding  the 
high  social  position  of  the  persons  who  had  offended 
him,  prepared  and  published  the  following  notification. 
It  appeared  in  the  Independent  Gazetteer,  March  31, 
1789: 

To  MESSRS.  GEORGE  CLYMER  and  THOMAS  FITZSIMONS, 
GENTLEMEN : 

I  think  proper  to  tell  you  that  I  have  felt  the  fall  force  of  all 
your  endeavors  to  injure  me,  in  the  state  which  has  sent  you  to 
Congress;  but,  notwithstanding  every  exertion  you,  as  members 
of  Assembly,  have  been  able  to  make,  my  rights  in  Pennsylva- 
nia remain  yet  unshaken  —  The  attempt  made  by  you  Mr.  Fitz- 
simons  to  introduce  a  bill  into  the  House,  to  take  them  by  sur- 
prise, and  was  purposely  intended  to  hurt  me,  was  treated  by 
the  House  as  it  justly  deserved,  and  you  were  not  permitted  to 
deliver  it  to  the  Speaker. 

The  active  and  unnecessary  part  which  you  Mr.  Clymer  took 
to  endeavor  to  get  another  law  passed,  that  was  intended  to  ruin 
me,  you  will  be  mortified  to  have  it  known  to  the  world  that 
you  failed  in  your  design,  but  I  think  I  ought  not  to  suffer  it 
to  pass  in  silence. 

You  are  now  going  to  Congress,  and  wish  to  have  it  known 
to  your  fellow-citizens  that  I  deem  you  my  professed  enemies  on 
this  subject,  and  that  you  will  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  hurt 
my  interest  with  that  honorable  body. 

JOHN  FITCH. 

PHILADELPHIA,  28th  March,  1789. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  267 

Mr.  Clymer  came  out  in  the  papers  a  day  or  two 
afterward,  and  charged  that  publication  to  Mr.  Wells. 
To  this  Fitch  replied,  assuming  all  the  responsibility, 
and  denying  that  Col.  Wells  had  any  knowledge  of  or 
connection  with  it. 

These  contests  kept  our  disputant  very  actively  em- 
ployed, and  distracted  his  mind  from  the  proper  busi- 
ness of  the  Company.  After  the  legislatures  had 
adjourned,  he  set  out  to  Shepherdstown,  in  Virginia, 
"  where  Rumsey  did  his  mighty  feats."  He  started  on 
that  journey  about  the  middle  of  May.  The  landlord 
of  the  inn  where  he  lodged  was  inquisitive  about  his 
business,  and  Fitch  told  him  the  object  of  his  visit  in 
confidence.  He  inquired  how  fast  Rumsey 's  steam- 
boat went.  The  landlord  said,  nearly  as  fast  as  he 
could  walk."  This  was  noted  down ;  seeing  which,  he 
corrected  himself  by  saying  "  as  fast  as  he  could 
walk."  Correction  was  made  accordingly,  when  he 
again  changed  his  phrase  to  "faster  than  he  could 
walk."  Fitch  then  went  out  into  the  town,  to  hunt 
up  information.  He  declared  that  he  discovered  that 
Barnes  had  made  a  bet  with  a  certain  Captain  Ross, 
that  Rumsey's  boat  would  ascend  the  Potomac  at  the 
rate  of  three  miles  an  hour ;  which  wager  was  lost,  and 
Ross  got  the  money.  At  that  trial  Fitch  was  told  that 
the  boat  was  not  carried  further  than  four  inches ;  and 
he  was  informed  that  Rumsey  had  never  carried  his 
boat  further  than  four  hundred  yards  by  steam.1  He 

1  It  is  remarkable  that  in  all  the  certificates  of  Rumsey's 
experiments,  December  3d  and  llth,  1787,  the  distance  passed 
over  by  the  boat  ia  not  specified.  They  only  state  that  it  was 
moved  by  steam,  "  at  the  rate  of  three  miles  an  hour,"  on  the 
3d,  and  "at  the  rate  of  four  miles  an  hour,"  on  the  llth. 


268  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

also  declared  that  the  trunks  were  not  placed  in  the 
boat  until  the  spring  of  1787  ;  and  that  spies  were  in 
Philadelphia,  watching  the  movements  of  Fitch  and 
Voight,  in  1786  and  1787. 

The  bold  errand  which  brought  the  Philadelphian 
into  the  enemy's  camp  was  soon  rumored  about  the 
town,  and  our  adventurer  got  himself  into  difficulty. 
He  was  insulted  by  Charles  Morrow,  and  only  escaped 
a  fight  with  him  by  prudence.  He  left  Shepherdstown 
the  same  afternoon,  crossed  over  into  Maryland,  and 
went  by  a  circuitous  route  to  Sharpsburg,  about  four 
miles  distant  from  the  former  village.  Leaving  this 
place  the  next  day,  he  again  kept  out  of  the  high  road 
(in  order  to  avoid  some  iron-works,  at  which  he  believed 
friends  of  Morrow  were  to  be  found)  and  went  toward  the 
Great  Falls  of  the  Potomac.  It  was  not  necessary  for 
him  to  go  so  far.  On  the  road,  and  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
he  got  from  Eremere,  Cruze,  Harris,  Smith,  and 
others,  the  information  he  wanted.  The  affidavits 
were  made  at  Sharpsburg,  from  which  place  it  was 
necessary  to  go  to  Hagerstown,  to  get  them  authenti- 
cated by  the  county  seal.  He  returned,  and  stopped 
nesrr  night  at  the  house  of  one  Lewis,  on  the  road  to 
Sharpsburg,  where  he  came  upon  an  assemblage  of  the 
friends  of  the  opposition.  They  were  rough  and 
unmannerly,  and  they  were  ripe  for  an  attack  upon  the 
unoffending  stranger.  He  tried  to  conciliate  them  in 
the  usual  way  at  that  time,  by  ordering  in  whiskey  for 
their  refreshment.  The  majority  drank  with  him,  but 
one  Crampton  refused  to  do  so,  and  amused  himself 
while  at  supper  by  throwing  a  potato  at  "  the  steam- 
boat man."  The  latter  remonstrated,  but  kept  his 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  269 

temper  very  well,  and  Crampton  and  some  of  his  com- 
panions at  last  went  off,  declaring  significantly  that 
they  "intended  to  return  in  the  morning."  The  hint 
was  not  lost  upon  our  adventurer,  who  rose  before  day- 
light, gave  out  that  he  was  going  to  Sharpsburg,  and 
went  away  in  the  right  direction.  When  out  of  the 
Bight  of  the  people  in  the  house,  he  changed  his  course, 
and  by  a  detour  got  into  the  road  to  Philadelphia, 
"  walking  fifteen  miles  to  go  three."  No  other  danger 
menaced  him,  and  in  good  time  he  got  to  Philadelphia 
with  his  additional  proofs. 

Among  other  ideas  of  the  practical  application  of 
steam  which  he  had  formed,  either  at  this  time  or  pre- 
viously, was  a  contrivance  for  a  steam  ice-boat.  He 
communicated  his  views  to  Oliver  Evans,  who  thus 
related  them  in  an  affidavit  sworn  to  in  1814 : 

About  the  year  1786,  1787,  or  1788,  John  Fitch  informed  ma 
that  he  contemplated  employing  steam  on  the  Lakes,  and  meant 
to  construct  two  keels  to  answer  as  runners ;  and  when  the 
Lakes  would  freeze  over  he  would  raise  his  boat  on  the  ice,  and 
by  a  wheel  on  each  side,  with  spokes  in  the  rim  to  take  hold  of 
the  ice,  he  calculated  it  would  be  possible  to  run  thirty  miles  an 
hour ;  and  also  that  he  meant  to  tow  boats  and  other  floats  by 
steam  boats.1 

1  Duer's  second  letter  to  Colden,  Appendix. 


23* 


270  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

NEW    MACHINERY  —  IMPERFECTION     OF    THE    WORK  — 

DESTITUTION    OF    FITCH THE    PACKET,    PASSENGER, 

AND   FREIGHT   STEAM-BOAT   OF   1790. 

THE  acrimonious  contests  with  Rumsey  had  taken 
up  much  time,  and  delayed  Fitch  and  the  steam-boat 
company  from  the  work  of  finishing  the  boat.  There 
was  now  a  respite,  and  the  affairs  of  the  shareholders 
were  put  in  a  condition  to  resume  operations.  Most  of 
the  debts  were  discharged  during  the  winter  of  1788-9, 
and  in  the  month  of  March  a  new  cylinder,  eighteen 
inches  in  diameter,  was  ordered  of  Drinker,  of  Atsion 
furnace.  The  casting  of  such  a  large  piece  was,  from 
the  paucity  of  means  possessed  by  the  founders,  con- 
sidered a  very  difficult  undertaking,  and  the  work  was 
not  completed  until  some  time  in  the  month  of  June. 
It  was  then  bored,  and  means  had  to  be  taken  to  fix  it 
in  the  boat,  so  that  they  were  not  ready  for  a  trial 
until  near  the  end  of  August.  Hall's  condenser  had 
been  set  up  in  the  boat,  but  before  an  experiment  was 
made  Dr.  Thornton,  who  had  invented  a  new  plan  of  a 
condenser,  advocated  the  substitution  of  one  upon  his 
method  for  that  Avhich  was  prepared.  This  proposition 
succeeded.  Hall's  condenser  was  taken  out,  and  after 
a  delay  of  a  week,  Dr.  Thornton's  was  substituted. 
This  vessel  was  made  of  eight-pound  sheets  of  copper. 
Fitch  at  once  perceived  that  such  a  thin  material  would 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  271 

be  unable  to  resist  the  pressure  to  which  it  "would  be 
subjected.  He  earnestly  begged  that  eighteen-pound 
sheets  should  be  used.  His  appeal  was  disregarded. 
The  flimsy  material  was  adopted,  and  at  the  first  trial 
the  condenser  "crushed  in  like  an  eggshell."  A 
stronger  vessel,  on  the  same  principle,  (Thornton's,) 
was  ordered,  and  in  the  meanwhile  the  engine  was 
tried  with  the  old  Hall  condenser.  The  boat  moved 
along  tolerably  well,  —  as  swiftly  as  it  did  in  the  pre- 
vious summer,  —  but  not  with  the  speed  which  those 
concerned  desired  to  obtain. 

In  the  meanwhile,  an  important  change  had  taken 
place  in  the  political  relations  of  the  independent 
members  of  the  Confederacy  of  States.  The  Federal 
Constitution  had  been  adopted,  and  the  new  Congress, 
having  powers  far  more  extensive  than  was  possessed 
under  the  Confederation,  had  assembled  at  the  city  of 
New  York  on  the  6th  of  April,  1789.  Scarcely  had 
the  new  President  been  sworn  into  office,  before  Con- 
gress was  besought  by  authors  and  inventors  to  grant 
to  them  exclusive  rights.  David  Ramsay,  of  South 
Carolina,  the  historian,  asked  for  a  copyright  for  his 
writings.  John  Churchman  wished  protection  for  the 
maps  and  charts  for  discovering  the  latitude  and  lon- 
gitude by  magnetic  variation,  which  he  was  about  to 
publish.  Alexander  Lewis,  of  Pennsylvania,  had  an 
invention  for  navigating  boats  of  twenty-five  tons  and 
under  against  rapid  streams.  Arthur  Greer  'had  a 
machine  to  discover  the  longitude.  Jedediah  Morse 
wished  a  copyright  for  the  "American  Geography;" 
and  on  the  13th  of  May,  John  Fitch  besought  an  inter- 
position in  his  favor,  as  appears  by  the  following 
record : 


272  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

Wednesday,  May  13,  1789.  —  The  Petition  of  John  Fitch,  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  presented,  stating  that  he  is  the  original  dis- 
coverer of  the  principle  of  applying  steam  power  to  the  pur- 
poses of  navigation,  and  has  obtained  an  exclusive  right  therefor, 
for  a  term  of  years,  in  the  states  of  Virginia,  Delaware,  Penn- 
sylvania, New  Jersey,  and  New  York,  and  praying  that  his 
rights  may  be  secured  to  him  by  law,  so  as  to  preclude  subse- 
quent improvers  on  his  principles  from  participating  therein 
until  the  expiration  of  his  granted  right. 

Referred  to  a  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Huntington, 
Cadwalader,  and  Contee,  to  report  thereon.1 

The  result  of  the  deliberations  of  the  Committee 
upon  all  the  petitions  before  them,  was  the  prepa- 
ration of  a  bill  "to  promote  the  progress  of  science 
and  useful  arts,  by  securing  to  authors  and  inventors 
the  exclusive  right  to  their  respective  writings  and  dis- 
coveries," which  was  received  and  read  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  for  the  first  time  on  the  23d  of 
June.  It  was  not  acted  upon,  and  was  postponed  on 
the  10th  of  August  until  the  next  session. 

Whilst  the  spirit  of  Fitch  was  harassed  bj  these 
delays  and  constant  failures,  Voight,  out  of  pity,  came 
to  his  aid.  Thornton's  condenser  was  at  length  finished 
and  applied.  "  The  boat  carried  on  cleverly,  but  did 
not  exceed  the  performance  of  the  preceding  summer, 
with  the  twelve-inch  cylinder."  Representations  were 
made  to  the  Company  in  reference  to  the  matter,  and 
the  shareholders  authorized  new  experiments.  Voight 
had  invented  a  plan  of  a  pipe  condenser.  This  was 
tried,  but  with  no  better  success.  These  alterations 
took  a  great  deal  of  time,  and  wearied  out  the  patience 

1  Journal  of  the  House  of  Representatives  U.  S.,  First  Ses- 
sion, page  42. 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  273 

of  all  concerned,  beside  occasioning  a  serious  waste  of 
money.  Fitch  became  dispirited,  and  yielded  the  man- 
agement to  Voight,  -whilst  he  rather  occupied  the  po- 
sition of  a  spectator.  Voight  invented  a  curious  forc- 
ing-pump, to  throw  a  jet  of  water  into  the  condenser. 
The  construction  of  this  pump  was  an  expensive  and 
tedious  piece  of  business,  which  procrastinated  the 
work.  When  it  was  finished,  the  performance  of  the 
boat  was  notfa  whit  better.  Puzzled  and  despairing 
at  the  constant  failures,  no  matter  what  changes  were 
made  in  the  condenser,  Voight  and  Fitch  —  for  the 
latter  was  again  active  —  began  to  surmise  that  the 
difficulty  lay  in  some  other  part  of  the  machinery. 
The  air-pump  it  was  previously  thought  was  not  of  suf- 
ficent  power,  and  accordingly  an  effort  was  made  to 
improve  it  by  enlarging  it.  This  "  brought  the  engine 
pretty  nearly  to  perfection."  It  was  tried  again,  "and 
did  pretty  well,  but  the  condensation  was  imperfect." 
A  day  was  set  to  give  the  engine  something  like  a  fair 
trial.  Fire  was  placed  under  the  boiler  early  in  the 
morning,  and  steam  was  made.  But  there  arose  a  tre- 
mendous gale,  against  which  even  steam  did  not  then 
dare  to  contend.  The  fire  was  quenched,  as  it  was 
thought,  but  it  was  not  entirely  extinguished  ;  some 
cinders  remained.  They  ignited  the  wood-work,  and  be- 
fore morning  holes  were  burned  in  the  boat  to  the  water's 
edge  on  each  side  of  the  grate  or  furnace.  Fitch  was 
apprised  of  the  accident  in  the  night ;  and  hastening 
to  the  Delaware,  he  succeeded  in  sinking  the  boat  and 
extinguishing  the  fire.  Nothing  daunted,  the  Com- 
pany set  to  work  to  raise  her  again.  The  injuries 
were  repaired,  and  the  steam-boat,  being  tried,  was 


274  LIFE    OP    JOHX    FITCH. 

found  to  go  very  well,  but  not  fast  enough  for  a  river 
packet.  These  experiments  were  made  in  December, 
1789.  The  cold  weather  now  approaching,  the  boat 
was  laid  up ;  and  the  excitement  attending  it  being 
suspended,  the  enthusiastic  schemer  had  some  time  to 
attend  to  his  own  affairs.  His  situation  was  truly 
affecting.  His  clothes  were  nearly  worn  out,  he  was 
in  rags,  and  largely  in  debt  for  board.  He  went  to 
Bucks  County  in  January,  and  remaidfed  there  ten 
days.  On  his  return,  Mrs.  Krafft,  who  kept  an  inn  at 
No.  462  North  Second  Street,  again  received  the  beg- 
gared genius,  and  permitted  him  to  remain  until  his 
means  would  allow  him  to  pay  her.  He  had  boarded 
there  for  some  two  years  previous,  and  probably  re- 
mained there  while  in  Philadelphia.  In  Biddle's  Di- 
rectory for  1791,  which  was  not  published  until  some 
time  in  May,  we  find  the  following  entry  : 

"  FITCH,  John,  owner  of  the  steamboat,  462  No.  Second  St." 

In  the  same  book  is  the  following : 

"  VOIGT,  Henry,  Clock  maker,  149  No.  Second  St." 


esti- 
rht's 
>jec- 


During  the  winter  of  1789-90,  Dr.  Thornton,  Mr. 
Wells,  and  Mr.  Stockton  resolved  to  have  the  boilers 
of  the  boat  altered.  This  improvement  it  was  esti- 
mated would  cost  ,£50.  It  is  presumed  that  Voight' 
pipe-boiler  did  not  work  well.  There  was  some  objec- 
tion on  the  part  of  Fitch,  upon  account  of  the  expense  ; 
but  lie  was  overruled,  and  the  improvement  was  finally 
settled  upon  without  other  modifications.  John  Brown 
made  the  grate,  and  probably  Jacob  Graff  did  the  most 
of  the  work  upon  the  boiler. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


275 


Cylinder,  Condenser,  and  Air-pump  of  Fitch's  Steam-boat. 
[From  the  original  drawing  in  the  Philadelphia  Library.] 

At  the  session  of  Congress  in  1790,  the  subject  of 
inventions  and  inventors  was  brought  to  the  attention 
of  the  members  by  a  petition  from  John  Stevens,  Jr., 
of  New  Jersey,  praying  that  exclusive  privileges  should 
be  granted  to  him  for  improvements  on  the  steam- 
engine,  which  he  had  made  by  a  new  mode  of  gene- 
rating steam.1  This  memorial  was  referred,  on  the 
8th  of  February,  to  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
Burke,  Huntington,  and  Cadwalader.  On  the  16th, 
1  Journal  of  the  House  of  llt'itresuiitatives,  page  30. 


276 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


Mr.  Burke  presented  a  bill  "  to  promote  the  progress 
of  useful  arts."  On  the  10th  of  March,  that  bill 
passed  the  House  and  was  sent  to  the  Senate.  Fitch, 
who  was  watchful,  did  not  like  some  of  its  features, 
and  he  remonstrated  against  it  to  the  Senate. 

March  22,  1790.— The  Petition  of  John  Fitch  was  read,  pray- 
ing that  a  clause  providing  for  a  trial  by  Jury  might  be  inserted 
in  the  bill  before  Congress  "  to  promote  the  progress  of  useful 
arts." 

Ordered,  that  the  Petition  be  referred  to  the  committee  who 
have  under  consideration  the  last  mentioned  bill.1 

A  report,  with  a  bill,  (not  according  to  Fitch's  re- 
quest, however,)  was  presented  shortly  afterward.  It 


Cylinder,  Condenser,  and  Air-pump  of  Fitch's  Steam-boat. 
[From  the  original  drawing  in  the  Philadelphia  Library.] 

was  passed  March  30th,  and  signed  by  the  President 
April  10th,  1790.     And  thus  commenced  the  patent- 

1  Senate  Journal,  page  43. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  277 

law  system  of  the  United  States ;  which,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  ingenuity  of  our  countrymen,  has  become 
one  of  the  most  important  jurisdictions  of  the  Govern- 
ment. 

In  the  spring  of  1790,  the  Steam-boat  Company 
began  to  put  the  works  on  board,  some  of  which  had 
been  taken  out  when  the  boat  was  laid  up  in  the  pre- 
vious winter.  The  alterations  to  the  boiler  were  also 
in  progress.  The  pleasant  prosecution  of  the  business 
was  prevented  by  recriminations  and  quarrelsome 
scenes  between  Fitch  and  some  of  the  Directors.  His 
temper  was  soured,  and  he  was  irritable  and  insulting. 
In  reference  to  these  defects,  he  himself  confessed  his 
weakness.  He  said, 

"  My  temper  of  mind,  being  so  different  from  any  man  that  I 
ever  saw  before,  caused  me  many  new  difficulties.  My  natural 
disposition  I  find  to  be  truly  this,  which  I  have  experienced 
several  times  in  the  course  of  my  life  ;  it  seems  to  be  a  part  of 
my  existence,  and  I  cannot  overcome  it:  When  in  easy  circum- 
stances, modest  to  excess,  and  put  up  with  almost  any  indigni- 
ties, and  resent  them  no  other  way  than  by  a  familiar  levity ; 
but  when  in  wretchedness,  haughty,  imperious,  insolent  to  my 
superiors,  tending  to  petulance ;  yet  exceedingly  civil  in  both 
instances  till  indignities  are  first  offered  to  me ;  and  the  greater 
the  man,  the  more  sweet  pleasure  in  retorting  upon  him  in  his 
own  way ;  and  a  man  in  this  disposition  to  be  in  low  circum- 
stances, can  never  get  through  the  world  easy." 

The  cause  of  dispute  at  this  time  was  in  reference  to 
the  propriety  of  getting  a  new  condenser.  The  Di- 
rectors ordered  a  new  one  to  be  made,  twice  as  large 
as  any  which  had  previously  been  tried.  To  this  Fitch 
was  opposed.  The  new  article  was  finished,  however, 
and  placed  in  the  "  condensing-tub,"  which  had  to  be 
24 


278  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

enlarged  to  hold  it.  Preparations  were  made  to  try 
the  boat  by  Easter  Monday.  The  engine  would  not 
work  with  any  degree  of  force,  and  the  little  vessel 
scarcely  stemmed  the  tide.  Dr.  Thornton  was  much 
discouraged.  Already  seven  condensers  had  been 
tried,  of  different  sorts  and  sizes,  and  all  had  failed. 
The  five  small  ones  were  the  most  successful.  That 
of  1787,  a  pipe-condenser  without  injection,  was  the 
best.  Fitch,  as  usual  when  he  desired  to  carry  out 
any  point,  resorted  to  his  pen,  and  placed  his  ideas 
upon  paper.  He  declared  that  the  defect  so  long 
observable  in  the  manner  in  which  the  boat  worked, 
the  cause  of  which  had  so  long  puzzled  them,  could 
not  be  in  the  cylinder,  air-pump,  or  boiler ;  but  must 
be  in  the  condenser.  In  regard  to  the  latter,  he  made 
the  following  observations : 

"  The  principle  which  I  have  urged  for  several  years,  and 
which  I  think  we  ought  now  to  attend  to,  is  the  point  of  Con- 
densation ;  and  if  possible,  bring  the  steam  presizely  to  the 
valve  of  the  air  pump,  which  should  drive  the  air  before  it  thro 
the  valve,  and  condence  the  steam  before  it  passes  ;  but  if  a 
small  quantity  of  steam  should  pass  the  valve,  I  conceive  no 
great  inconveniancy  from  it ;  for  when  our  Engine  worked  its 
best,  in  the  year  1787,  Mr.  Voigt  frequently  said  that  we  wanted 
a  better  condensation,  for  our  air  pumps  drew  steam. 

"  Thornton's  Condenser  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  best  calcu- 
lated to  condence  without  a  jet  of  Water ;  but  I  conceive  the 
difficulty  of  getting  rid  of  the  air  is  insurmountable.  Suppose 
a  Condenser  to  be  made  on  his  plan,  as  represented  by  Figure  1. 
Suppose  A  to  be  the  cylinder,  B  the  Condenser,  C  the  Air  Pump. 
When  the  steam  is  let  out  of  the -Great  Cylinder  to  the  Con- 
denser, I  expect  that  the  steam  is  destroyed  by  the  time  that  it 
arrives  at  e  ;  then  the  space  between  e  and  the  valve  of  the  air 
pump,  h,  must  be  filled  with  air.  As  soon  as  the  steam  is  de- 
stroyed the  air  expands,  and  occupies  all  the  space  from  h  to  g 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  279 


Fig.  1.    Dr.  Thornton's  Condenser,  Cylinder,  and  Air-pump. 

in  the  great  Cylinder.  The  great  Cylinder,  being  hot,  expands 
the  air,  and  opposes  the  piston  nearly  equal  to  Common  air; 
and  when  it  is  drove  back  again  by  the  steam  to  the  Cold  Con- 
densor,  it  becomes  nearly  equal  to  common  air  in  density,  and 
skulks  into  the  botom  of  the  Condensor  for  security,  where  it 
cannot  be  dislodged  until  the  steam  is  destroyed,  when  it  rushes 
out  and  does  the  same  injury  again;  which  Coudensor  leaves 
such  a  stronghold  for  it  to  fly  to  that  it  can  never  be  expelled 
by  steam ;  consequently  we  have  always  nearly  an  atmosphere 
to  contend  with. 

"Suppose  we  were  to  Condence  our  steam  by  letting  it  run 
through  a  tube  in  common  air ;  that  tube  must  be  of  great 
length,  and  the  point  of  Condensation  would  be  very  unequal; 
and  if  it  did  not  arrive  at  the  extream  end,  where  the  air  pumps 
should  be  fixed,  the  air  which  should  not  be  expelled  would 
return  again,  expand  with  the  heat,  and  have  a  pernitious  ten- 
dency in  proportion  to  its  quantity. 

"But  by  letting  a  tube  run  through  the  "Water,  would  bring  it 
to  a  more  nice  point ;  but  as  the  Water  would  be  sometimes 
cooler  and  sometimes  Warmer,  it  cannot  be  brought  to  so  nice 
a  point  as  by  an  injection ;  and  the  smaller  that  the  Condensor 


280 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


is,  I  believe  the  more  perfect  the  vacuum  can  be  made,  provided 

the  steam  can  be  destroyed  in  time. 

But  suppose  our  Condensers  of  one  straight  tube,  as  Fig.  2. 
Suppose  A  to  be  the  Cylinder, 
B  the  Condenser,  and  C  the  air 
pump ;  when  the  steam  rushed 
out  of  the  Great  Cylinder  to  the 
condenser,  I  think  probably  it 
would  arrive  to  the  valve  of  the 
Air  Pump,  and  drive  the  air  be- 
fore it  thro  the  valve,  as  on  its 
first  arrival  it  would  check  the 
injection  ;  If  not,  the  quantity 
of  air  remaining  would  be  in- 
considerable to  what  would  be 
in  a  large  Condensor;  conse- 
quently, less  capable  of  injuring 
us,  and  much  more  perfect  va- 
cuum formed." 


Fig.  2.    John  Fitch's  Condenger,  Cylin- 
der, and  Air-pump. 


This  paper  was  shown  to  some  of  the  Company,  and 
they  agreed  to  try  the  thing.  Another  condenser  was 
ordered,  and  this,  with  other  alterations,  seems  to  have 
secured  the  long-sought  result. 

On  Monday,  the  12th  of  April,  the  machinery  was 
tried;  and  it  worked  so  forcibly  that  a  pully  was 
broken.  They  were  compelled  to  come  to  anchor.  A 
strong  north-west  wind  was  blowing.  Several  sail- 
boats passed  them,  but  refused  any  help,  jeering, 
at  the  same  time,  at  their  misfortune.  There  was  now 
some  hope  of  success  ;  and  a  new  and  stronger  pully 
having  been  procured,  the  adventurers  made  a  trial 
which  was  glorious  in  its  consequences.  In  the  sim- 
plicity and  exultation  of  his  heart.  Fitch  thus  exclaims 
in  his  journal: 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCII.  281 

"  On  the  16th  of  April,  [1790,]  got  our  work  compleated,  and 
tried  our  Boat  again  ;  and  altho  the  wind  blew  very  fresh  at  the 
north  east,  we  reigned  Lord  High  Admirals  of  the  Delaware, 
and  no  boat  in  the  River  could  hold  its  way  with  us,  but  all  fell 
astern,  although  several  sail  boats,  which  were  very  light,  and 
heavy  sails,  that  brought  their  gunwales  well  down  to  the  water, 
came  out  to  try  us.  We  also  passed  many  boats  with  oars,  and 
strong  manned,  and  no  loading,  and  [they]  seemed  to  stand  still 
when  we  passed  them.  We  also  run  round  a  vessel  that  was 
beating  to  windward  in  about  two  miles,  which  had  half  a  mile 
start  of  us,  and  came  in  without  any  of  our  works  failing." 

The  next  day  was  appointed  to  make  a  trip  with 
members  of  the  Company.  The  wind  blew  very  strong, 
and  none  came  but  Dr.  Benjamin  Say.  They  ventured 
out  in  the  stream,  and  found  that  they  could  work 
very  well.  Before  the  wind  they  went  "  amazingly 
swift,"  and  they  returned  well  pleased,  and  with  an 
idea  that  their  troubles  were  nearly  at  an  end.  A 
short  time  afterward,  David  Rittenhouse  and  Dr.  Ro- 
bert Patterson  were  taken  on  a  four-mile  trip  and  re- 
turned, and  subsequently,  Dr.  Ewing,  General  James 
Irvine,  and  Mr.  Gray,  were  favored  with  the  novelty 
of  a  steam  voyage. 

In  the  joy  of  his  heart  at  this  happy  consummation, 
Fitch  exclaims, 

"Thus  has  been  effected,  by  little  Johnny  Fitch  and  Harry 
Voight,  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  useful  arts  that  has  ever 
been  introduced  into  the  world  ;  and  although  the  world  and  my 
country  does  not  thank  me  for  it,  yet  it  gives  me  heartfelt  satis- 
faction." 

For  the  first   time  since  these  persevering  experi- 
ments commenced,  the  public  journals  condescended  to 
24* 


282  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

notice  their  progress.  The  following  paragraph,  pub- 
lished in  the  Gazette  of  the  United  States,  May  15, 
was  republished  generally  throughout  the  Union,  in 
newspapers  and  magazines : 

"  BURLINGTON,  MAY  11,  1790. 

"  The  friends  of  science  and  the  liberal  arts  will  be  gratified 
in  hearing  that  -we  were  favored,  on  Sunday  last,  with  a  visit 
from  the  ingenious  Mr.  Fitch,  accompanied  by  several  gentleman 
of  taste  and  knowledge  in  mechanics,  in  a  steamboat  constructed 
on  an  improved  plan.  From  these  gentlemen  we  learn  that  they 
came  from  Philadelphia  in  three  hours  and  a  quarter,  with  a 
head  wind,  the  tide  in  their  favour.  On  their  return,  by  accu- 
rate observations,  they  proceeded  down  the  river  at  the  rate  of 
upwards  of  seven  miles  an  hour." 

On  the  16th  of  June,  Governor  Thomas  Mifflin  and 
Messrs.  Samuel  Miles,  Zehulon  Potts,  Amos  Gregg, 
Christopher  Kucher,  Frederick  Watts,  Abraham  Smith, 
William  Findlay,  John  Hartzell,  and  Charles  Biddle,  of 
the  Council,  were  on  board,  and  took  a  trip.  They  were 
highly  pleased,  and  authorized  Fitch  to  get  a  suit  of  colors 
at  their  expense.  This  was  done.  The  bill  amounted 
to  £5  6s.  lid.  There  had  been  no  flags  on  the  steam- 
boat before,  and  Fitch,  naturally  anxious  for  the  eclat 
which  such  a  gift  would  occasion,  desired  that  it  should 
be  presented  in  form.  The  Governor  and  Council  were 
too  shrewd  politicians  thus  publicly  to  commit  them- 
selves in  favor  of  a  scheme  which  had  been  the  sub- 
ject of  popular  derision  for  four  years.  Mr.  Biddle, 
the  Secretary,  informed  the  inventor  that  the  flags 
•were  given  by  private  subscription  among  the  members 
of  the  Council,  and  not  officially. 

Dr.  Thornton  stated  that  these  flags  were  afterward 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  283 

taken  to  France  by  Fitch,  and  presented  to  the  Na- 
tional Convention.1  A  paragraph  which  has  been 
printed  in  the  American  newspapers  recently  declares 
that  they  are  in  the  Patent  Office  at  Washington. 
This  allegation  we  have  been  unable  to  verify. 

The  boat  was  now  ready  for  active  service,  but  it 
was  necessary  to  make  some  accommodation  for  pas- 
sengers. Dr.  Thornton  wanted  the  cabin  high,  and 
stately.  Fitch  feared  that  such  a  structure  would 
catch  the  wind,  and  prove  an  obstacle  to  the  progress 
of  the  boat.  There  was  a  dispute  about  it,  which  finally 
resulted  in  the  vanquishment  of  the  projector  and  the 
triumph  of  his  adversary. 

It  was  probably  about  this  time  that  the  experiment 
took  place  which  was  described  by  Dr.  Thornton  in 
1810: 

"  The  day  was  appointed,  and  the  experiment  made  in  the 
following  manner:  A  mile  was  measured  in  Front  street,  or 
Water  street,  Philadelphia,  and  the  bounds  projected  at  right 
angles,  as  exactly  as  could  be,  to  the  wharves,  where  a  flag  was 
placed  at  each  end,  and  also  a  stop  watch.  The  boat  was  or- 
dered under  way  at  dead  water,  or  when  the  tide  was  found  to 
be  without  movement.  As  the  boat  passed  one  flag  it  was 
struck,  and  at  the  same  instant  the  watches  were  set  off;  as  the 
boat  reached  the  other  flag  it  was  also  struck,  and  the  watches 
instantly  stopped.  Every  precaution  was  taken  before  wit- 
nesses ;  the  time  was  shown  to  all,  the  experiment  declared  to 
be  fairly  made,  and  the  Boat  was  found  to  go  at  the  rate  of  Eight 
miles  an  hour,  or  one  mile  within  the  eighth  of  an  hour ;  on 
which  the  shares  were  signed  over  with  great  satisfaction  by  the 
rest  of  the  Company.  It  afterwards  went  eighty  miles  in  a 
day." 

1  "A  short  Account  of  the  Origin  of  Steamboats." 


284  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


^ 


John  Fitch's  Steam-boat  — 1788, 1789,  1790. 

The  great  problem,  it  was  now  thought,  was  demon- 
strated. The  boat  was  run  to  Burlington  frequently, 
beating  everything  which  sailed  on  the  Delaware. 
There 'were  occasional  accidents,  but  they  were  easily 
repaired.  It  is  said  in  the  journal  that  the  boat  ran 
as  much  as  five  hundred  miles  between  these  various 
accidents ;  which  would  give  an  average  of  nearly 
fourteen  uninterrupted  trips.  At  this  time  the  steam- 
boat was  run  as  a  regular  passenger  boat.  This  is 
substantiated  by  some  remarks  in  the  journal  in  refer- 
ence to  an  article  ridiculing  the  steam-boat,  which  was 
published  in  the  Franklin  Gazette  on  the  17th  of  Ja- 
nuary, 1791.  Although  this  purported  to  come  from 
a  correspondent,  it  was  thought  that  Benjamin  F. 
Bache,  the  proprietor  of  the  paper,  ought  to  be  held 


LIFEOFJOHNFITCH.  285 

responsible  for  it.1  A  certificate  of  B.  F.  Bache,  in 
favor  of  the  performance  of  the  boat,  dated  16th  of 
June,  1790,  was  referred  to,  and  the  injured  party 
thus  proceeds : 

"  Mr.  Bache  has  taken  many  trips  in  the  boat,  on  his  own 
business,  to  Burlington  and  other  places,  without  offering  us  a 
single  sous  for  the  favour;  and  from  such  customers,  and  others 
like  him,  we  actually  run  our  boat  last  summer  to  a  disadvan- 
tage ;  but  I  think  it  is  ungenerous  in  him  to  abuse  us  for  it,  even 
if  he  claims  Dr.  Franklin's  share  in  Rumsey's  steam-boat." 

We  find  further  and  complete  confirmation  of  the 
usefulness  of  the  boat  in  the  following  advertisements, 
copied  from  newspapers  published  at  the  time : 

THE  STEAMBOAT 

is  now  ready  to  take  passengers,  and  is  intended  to  set  off  from 
Arch  street  Ferry,  in  Philadelphia,  every  Monday,  Wednesday, 

1  The  following  extract  from  the  article  in  question  will  serve 
to  give  an  idea  of  its  nature : 

"A  boat  on  this  construction,  barring  all  accidents  of  break- 
ing paddles,  cranks,  gudgeons,  watchwbeels,  chains,  Logger- 
heads, cocks,  valves,  pins,  bolts,  pistons,  cylinders,  boilers,  con- 
densers, air-pumps,  and  God  only  knows  how  many  more  useful 
parts,  which  we  have  omitted,  would  almost  stem  the  tide  of  the 
Delaware ;  and  the  net  proceeds  of  the  monthly  expences  would 
not  exceed  those  of  the  income  of  above  ten  pounds  ;  so  that  in 
one  year  there  must  be  a  clear  saving  of  £120  —  no  matter  to 
whom,  so  that  it  is  saved. 

"And  to  compleat  the  machinery  of  a  Boat  on  this  plan,  of 
ten  or  fifteen  tons  Burthen,  and  keep  her  in  tolerable  order, 
may  be  done  at  a  very  moderate  expence ;  as  one  master  copper- 
smith, with  three  or  four  journeymen,  a  master  Blacksmith,  with 
as  many  Journeymen,  aided  by  an  ingenious  watch  and  clock 
maker,  provided  they  are  industrious,  will  be  amply  sufficient 
for  the  purpose." 


286  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  Friday,  for  Burlington,  Bristol,  Bordentown,  &  Trenton,  to 
return  on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  and  Saturdays.  Price  for  pas- 
sengers, 2/6  to  Burlington  and  Bristol,  3/9  to  Bordentown, 
5*.  to  Trenton. 

June  14.  ta-th,  s-tf. 

Pennsylvania  Packet,  June  15,  1790.  Published  also  in  the 
Federal  Gazette,  June  14th,  17th,  19th;  22d,  and  24th. 

THE 

STEAMBOAT 

sets  oat  to  morrow  morning,  at  ten  oclock,  from  Arch  Street 
Ferry,  in  order  to  take  passengers  for  Bristol,  Bordentown,  and 
Trenton,  and  return  next  day. 

Philad.,  July  26th,  1790.  Federal  Gazette. 

THE 

STEAMBOAT 

sets  out  from  Arch  street  ferry  on  Sunday  morning,  at  eight 
oclock,  for  Chester,  to  return  the  same  day.     And  on  Thursday 
following,   at  seven    o-Clock,   for  "Wilmington   and  Christeen 
Bridge. 
July  30,  1790.  Federal  Gazette. 

The  Steamboat 

seta  out  from  Arch  Street  Ferry  on  Thursday  next,  at  Seven 
o  Clock,  for  "Wilmington  and  Christian  Bridge. 

Aug.  2,  1790.  Federal  Gazette. 

Published  also  Aug.  4th. 

THE  STEAMBOAT 

sets  off  to  morrow  morning,  from  Arch  St.  Ferry,  at  10  oclock, 
•with  passengers  for  Burlington  ;  and  on  Sunday,  at  eight  oclock, 
for  Chester,  and  to  return  same  days.  aug  11  dtf 

Pennsylvania  Packet,  Aug.  11,  1790. 

Published  in  the  Federal  Gazette,  August  llth,  12th,  13th, 
and  14th. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  287 

THE    STEAMBOAT 

sets  off  from  Arch  St.  ferry  to  morrow  morning,  at  seven  oclock, 
and  on  Sunday  at  eight  oclock,  with  passengers  for  Burlington, 
and  returns  same  days. 

August  18th.  Federal  Gazette. 

Published  on  the  19th,  20th,  and  21st. 

THE    STEAMBOAT 

sets  off  this  day,  from  Arch  St.,  at  10  oclock,  for  Burlington  and 
Bristol  Bordentown  &  Trenton,  and  returns  to  morrow. 

Aug.  26,  1790.  Pennsylvania  Packet. 

Published  in  the  Federal  Gazette  on  the  26th,  27th,  and  28th. 

THE  STEAMBOAT  sets  off  from  arch  st.  to  morrow  for  Chester, 
&  returns  same  day. 
Aug.  28,  1790.  Pennsylvania  Packet. 

The  Steam-boat 

will  set  out  this  morning,  at  11  oclk,  for  Messrs.  Gray's  Garden, 
at  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  for  each  passenger  thither.  It  will 
afterward  ply  between  Gray's  and  middle  ferry,  at  lid  each 
passenger.  To  morrow  morning,  Sunday,  it  will  set  off  for  Bur- 
lington at  eight  oclock,  to  return  in  the  afternoon. 

Sept.  4,  1790.  Pennsylvania  Packet. 

THE   STEAMBOAT 

will  set  out  from  Arch  street  wharf  on  Sunday,  the  12th  inst., 

at  8  o  clock  in  the  morning,  for  Chester,  to  return  the  same  day. 

Sept.  10th.  Federal  Gazette. 

Here  are  no  less  than  twenty-three  advertisements, 
counting  all  the  days  of  publication,  specifying  the 
times  at  which  no  less  than  thirty-one  trips  would  take 
place,  counting  each  passage  from  Philadelphia  to  the 
place  of  destination  as  one.  If  the  steam-boat  had 
done  no  more  than  make  the  passage  on  the  days 
designated,  it  would  have  passed  over  thirteen  hundred 


288  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

and  eighty  miles.  But  as  the  city  was  small,  and  the 
performances  of  the  boat  a  matter  of  notoriety,  it  is 
quite  probable  that  from  June  14th  to  September  10th, 
and  perhaps  for  some  weeks  afterward,  the  vessel  ran 
steadily.  To  Trenton  was  considered  thirty  miles,  to 
Burlington  twenty,  to  Chester  fifteen,  to  Wilmington 
thirty.  If  we  average  all  the  trips  at  twenty-five  miles 
each,  the  steam-boat  must  have  run,  before  she  was 
laid  up,  from  two  thousand  to  three  thousand  miles. 
That  the  voyages  were  made  without  material  delays, 
appears  by  Fitch's  MS.  journal.  He  says  that  if  the 
safety-valve  had  not  been  overloaded  by  Voight,  in 
defiance  of  entreaty,  there  would  have  been  no  acci- 
dent during  that  summer.  "  The  axle-trees  broke 
twice ;  there  was  nothing  but  these  accidents  which 
could  not  be  repaired  in  a  single  hour  or  two."  The 
grate  was  burnt  out,  and  had  to  be  renewed.  They 
beat  "  the  sail-boats  on  the  river,  three  to  one ;"  but 
their  enemies  took  advantage  of  every  accident  to 
spread  reports  against  the  work.  "  The  boat  run  five 
hundred  miles  between  these  accidents." 

The  following  account  of  the  performances  of  the 
boat  is  found  in  the  New  York  Magazine  for  1790, 
page  493. 

"Extract  of  a  letter  from  Philadelphia,  August  13. 

"Fitch's  steamboat  really  performs  to  a  charm.  It  is  a  plea- 
sure, while  one  is  on  board  of  her  in  a  contrary  wind,  to  observe 
her  superiority  over  the  river  shallops,  sloops,  ships,  &c.,  who, 
to  gain  any  thing,  must  make  a  zigzag  course,  while  this,  our 
new  invented  vessel,  proceeds  in  a  direct  line.  On  Sunday 
morning  she  sets  off  for  Chester,  and  engages  to  return  in  the 
evening — 40  miles.  God  willing,  I  intend  to  be  one  of  the  pas- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  289 

senders,  were  it  only  to  encourage  American  ingenuity  and  the 
fine  arts.  Fitch  is  certainly  one  of  tho  most  ingenious  creatures 
alive,  and  will  certainly  make  his  fortune.  I  am  told  he  is  now 
in  contemplation  to  build  a  steam  vessel  on  a  larger  scale,  which 
may  be  capable  of  carrying  freights  and  passengers  to  the  West 
Indies,  and  even  to  Europe.  One  great  advantage  I  can  foresee 
in  these  voyages,  which  is,  that  the  steam  ship  can  make  pro- 
gress in  a  calm,  when  other  vessels  must  lie  motionless.  How 
she  would  behave  in  a  gale  of  wind,  must  be  left  to  experience 
to  determine.  Having  no  sails,  masts,  or  top  hamper,  to  lay 
too  or  scud  under,  it  is  probable  she  might  at  such  time  be  in 
great  Jeopardy." 

The  trip  made  to  Gray's  Ferry,  and  on  the  Schuyl- 
kill,  September  4th,  was  doubtless  that  which  was  wit- 
nessed by  Rembrandt  Peale.  He  gives  his  recollec- 
tions in  a  letter  to  a  member  of  the  Historical  Society, 
dated  January  13,  1848.  It  will  be  seen  that  Mr. 
Peale  gives  the  date  of  the  spring  of  1785  as  the 
time  when  he  saw  the  boat.  This  was  before  it  was 
thought  of.  Mr.  Peale  has  no  doubt  been  deceived  in 
his  memory  of  the  time  by  the  lapse  of  many  years  : x 

"  In  the  spring  of  1785,  hearing  there  was  something  curious 
to  be  seen  at  the  floating  bridge,  on  the  Schuylkill,  at  Market 
street,  I  eagerly  ran  to  the  spot,  where  I  found  a  few  persons 
collected,  anxiously  gazing  at  a  shallop  at  anchor  below  the 
bridge,  with  about  twenty  persons  on  board.  On  the  deck  was 
a  small  furnace,  and  machinery,  connected  with  a  complex 
crank,  projecting  over  the  stern,  to  give  motion  to  three  or  four 
paddles,  resembling  snow  shovels,  which  hung  into  the  water. 
When  all  was  ready,  and  the  force  of  steam  was  made  to  act, 
by  means  of  which  I  was  then  ignorant,  knowing  nothing  of  the 
nature  of  a  piston  except  in  a  common  pump,  the  paddles  began 

1  Collections  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  Vol. 
I.,  No.  1,  page  34. 

25 


290  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

to  work,  pressing  against  the  water  backwards  as  they  rose,  and 
the  boat,  to  my  great  delight,  moved  against  the  tide,  without 
•wind  or  hand ;  but  in  a  few  moments  it  run  aground  at  an  angle 
of  the  river,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  managing  the  unwieldy 
rudder,  which  projected  eight  or  ten  feet.  It  was  soon  backed 
off,  and  proceeded  slowly  to  its  destination,  at  Gray's  ferry." 

Dr.  John  Ewing  certified  that  on  the  1st  day  of 
May,  1790,  the  steam-hoat  "  went  six  miles  an  hour, 
without  wind  or  tide."  David  Rittenhouse  also  made 
a  statement  that  he  was  on  board  the  boat  on  the  4th 
of  May,  1790,  when  it  "  was  propelled  at  the  full  rate 
of  six  miles  an  hour,  solely  by  steam." 

General  James  Irvine,  Vice-President  of  the  State 
of  Pennsylvania,  corroborated  the  statement  of  Dr. 
Ewing,  having  been  on  board  the  steam-boat  at  the 
same  time.1 

Lewis  Rue  and  John  Shaffer  gave  a  certificate  that 
on  Saturday,  the  5th  of  June,  1790,  they  left  Phila- 
delphia in  the  steam-boat  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  and  went  to  Trenton  Landing,  and  to  Lam- 
bertville,  fifteen  miles  above  Trenton.  They  returned 
to  Philadelphia  by  half-past  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. They  stopped  one  hour  at  Lambertville  and 
other  places.  The  current  was  against  them  eight  or 
nine  miles  before  they  reached  Lambertville.  There 
was  a  fresh  wind  against  them  all  the  way  on  their 
return,  and  the  tide  was  against  them  for  seven  or 
eight  miles  before  reaching  Philadelphia.  The  space 

1  General  Joseph  Bloomfield,  of  New  Jersey,  testified,  before 
a  Committee  of  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  in  1814,  that  he 
had  frequently  been  a  passenger  on  Fitch's  boat  on  the  Dela- 
ware.— See  New  York  Review,  Vol.  IV.,  page  148. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  291 

passed  over  by  the  boat  in  twelve  hours  and  a  half  was 
ninety  miles,  and  the  speed  was,  on  the  average,  seven 
miles  and  a  half  an  hour.  Probably  with  the  tide,  on 
the  upward  passage,  it  was  nine  or  ten  miles  an  hour. 
Contrast  this  with  the  performance  of  Fulton's  boat, 
the  Clermont,  on  the  Hudson,  seventeen  years  after- 
ward, which  occupied  thirty-two  hours  running  time, 
to  go  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles, — about 
four  miles  and  three-quarters  an  hour, — and  how  great 
is  the  triumph  of  the  original  inventor!  "Plad  they 
started  together,  over  the  same  course,  at  the  same 
time,  Fitch's  boat  would  have  reached  Albany  fifty -two 
miles  in  advance."1  Fitch,  had  an  engine  manufac- 
tured in  this  country  by  common  blacksmiths,  under 
his  own  supervision,  at  a  time  when  the  principles  and 
the  relative  forces  of  the  different  parts  of  the  steam- 
engine  were  almost  unknown.  Fulton  employed  an 
imported  engine,  built  in  England,  by  Bolton  and 
Watt,  on  their  improved  principles.  Fulton  told  Dr. 
Thornton  that  it  was  impossible  to  make  a  boat  to  "  go 
more  than  five  miles  an  hour  in  dead  water."  He 
"  offered  me,"  said  Dr.  Thornton,  "  $150,000,  if  I 
would  make  one  that  exceeded  it.  I  agreed  to  his  pro- 
posal at  once,  but  he  declined  to  write  the  terms.  Our 
boat  [Fitch's]  went  at  the  rate  of  eight  miles  an  hour, 
in  the  presence  of  witnesses  yet  [1814]  living.2 

The  following,  which  was  published  some  time  since 
in  the  New  York  Leader,  is,  without  doubt,  the  letter 

1  Whittlesey. 

2  See  United  States  Patent  Office  Report  for  1850,  Parti.,  page 
370.     "  Thornton's  Account,"  &c. 


292  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

in  which  Fulton's  offer  was  made.  The  place  from 
which  it  is  dated  was  Joel  Barlow's  residence,  near 
Washington : 

KALORMA,  January  9,  1811. 
To  DR.  THORNTON: 

DEAR  SIR: — Having  an  unfortunate  bile,  and  being  altogether 
so  unwell  that  I  shall  probably  not  be  able  to  go  out  of  the 
house  in  a  fortnight,  I  shall  be  happy  to  have  some  conversation 
with  you  on  your  steamboat  inventions  and  experience.  Al- 
though I  do  not  see  by  what  means  a  boat  containing  one  hun- 
dred tons  of  merchandise  can  be  driven  six  miles  an  hour  in 
still  water,  yet  when  you  assert  your  perfect  confidence  in  such 
success,  there  may  be  something  more  in  your  combinations 
than  I  am  aware  of.  As  such  success  would  be  of  infinite 
national  importance,  I  should  feel  disposed,  on  the  principles 
of  patriotism,  to  give  the  essay  every  aid,  at  the  same  time  to 
make  such  an  arrangement  as  would  secure  you  ample  fortune. 
To  prove  your  principles  by  practice,  it  has  occurred  to  me  that 
one  of  two  things  may  be  done :  either  that  you  find  some  one 
to  join  you,  with  funds,  to  build  the  boat,  and  if  you  succeed  to 
run  six  miles  an  hour  in  still  water,  with  one  hundred  tons  of 
merchandise,  I  will  contract  to  reimburse  the  cost  of  the  boat, 
and  to  give  you  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  for  your 
patent ;  or,  if  you  can  convince  me  of  the  success  by  drawings 
or  demonstrations,  I  will  join  you  in  the  expenses  and  profits. 
Please  to  think  of  this,  and  have  the  goodness  to  let  me  see  or 
hear  from  you  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  am,  sir,  your  most  obedient, 

ROBERT  FULTON. 

That  Fulton  was  incredulous  that  as  high  a  rate  of 
speed  as  six  miles  an  hour,  in  still  water,  could  be 
attained,  is  not  strange.  He  had  no  right  to  expect 
a  better  performance  from  the  experience  which  he  had 
with  the  "Clermont"  and  the  "Car  of  Neptune." 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  293 

Some  months  after  the  foregoing  letter  was  written, 
the  latter  boat  attained,  under  favorable  conditions  of 
tide,  a  speed  of  seven  miles  and  two-thirds  per  hour ; 
which  remarkable  circumstance  was  thus  chronicled  in 
the  Boston  Weekly  Messenger  of  November  8th,  1811 : 

RAPID  TRAVELLING! 

NEW  YORK,  OCT.  24. 

The  steamboat  "  Car  of  Neptune,"  which  left  this  city  on 
Saturday  evening  last,  at  five  o'clock,  arrived  at  Albany  in  20 
hours.  She  returned  this  morning  in  22  hours  —  equal  to 
330  miles  in  43  hours.  Let  foreigners,  who  say  we  have  no 
talent  for  improvement,  point  out  where  there  is  any  mode 
of  conveyance  equal  to  this !  In  what  country  are  there  so 
many  enjoyments  combined  in  one  great  polytechnic  machine, 
and  mounted  with  wings,  as  this,  which  wafts  passengers  as  by 
enchantment  between  the  cities  of  New  York  and  Albany  ? 

To  our  countrymen,  then,  and  our  arts,  let  justice  be  liberally 
and  honestly  measured  out. 


25* 


294  LIFE     OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

COMMENCEMENT   OF  THE   STEAM-BOAT   PERSEVERANCE. 

THE  practicability  of  the  invention  having  now  been 
tested,  the  new  Company  was  consolidated  with  the 
old,  and  preparations  were  made  to  build  another  boat, 
so  that  two  vessels  moved  by  steam  could  be  sent  to 
Virginia,  in  order  to  meet  with  the  requisitions  of  the 
law  in  favor  of  Fitch  passed  by  that  State.1  The  time 
was  short,  as  the  law  would  expire  unless  the  specified 
conditions  were  fulfilled  by  the  9th  of  November,  1790. 
Prompt  action  was  taken.  A  levy  of  <£10  was  made 
upon  each  member.  "  All  professed  themselves  willing 
to  pay  it,  but  the  collection  of  the  amount  was  not  an 
easy  matter.  Fitch  feared  that  this  difficulty  would 
arise,  and  he  represented  to  Edward  Brooks,  the  Trea- 
surer, and  others,  that  the  building  of  the  boat  ought 
not  to  be  commenced  until  the  necessary  funds  were  in 
hand.  This  prudent  suggestion  was  unheeded.  The 
vessel  was  contracted  for,  and  the  work  was  begun. 
A  proposition  was  made  by  the  inventor  that  he  should 
go  to  the  Western  country  to  seek  subscriptions ;  but 
that  plan  was  not  adopted.  It  was  shovm  to  General 

1  The  great  value  of  the  Virginia  law  was,  that  it  secured 
exclusive  rights  to  the  steam-boat  in  the  Western  waters  —  the 
Ohio  and  its  tributaries.  In  the  bounds  of  Virginia  were  em- 
braced at  that  time  the  present  States  of  Kentucky,  Ohio,  and 
the  North-Weatern  Territory. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  295 

Gibson,  of  Allegheny,  and  Colonel  Mastel,  who  gave 
it  their  approbation  in  words.  An  application  to  mem- 
bers of  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  from  the 
western  counties  was  not  as  successful.  Mr.  John 
Hoge,  Representative  of  Washington  and  Fayette,  . 
and  James  Findlay  and  Albert  Gallatin,  of  Fayette, 
were  not  courteous,  and  they  treated  the  proposition 
with  disdain. 

In  the  estimate  then  prepared,  it  was  calculated!  that 
ten  boats  might  be  necessary  for  use  on  the  Western 
waters,  and  that  they  would  cost  about  two  thousand 
dollars  each.  Chagrined  at  the  result,  application  was 
made  to  General  Gibson,  to  induce  him  to  become  a 
partner  in  the  enterprize  of  building  a  boat  at  Pittb- 
burg.  The  following  was  the  letter  containing  this 
proposal : 

Worthy  Honoured  Sir: 

The  subscriber  humbly  begs  leave  to  demon- 
strate to  you  the  unacountable  difficulties  and  imbarrassments 
•which  have  been  and  still  are  thrown  in  his  way,  which  no  man 
acting  upon  natural  principles  could  even  suspect. 

The  imbarrasments  of  a  man  in  my  station  of  life,  to  raise 
£3000  in  so  short  a  space  of  time  as  I  have  done,  and  that  upon 
so  unpopular  and  uncertain  a  scheme  as  I  have  been  upon,  can- 
not be  supposed  to  be  small.  But  since  I  have  waded  through 
all  these  difficulties,  and  have  assertained  the  scheme  to  meet 
with  such  cold  reception,  as  I  do,  from  the  very  men  who  are 
to  be  benefited.by  it,  was  never  suspected  by  me. 

To  tell  you,  Sir,  that  som  of  the  Gentlemen  from  your  Country, 
whome  I  waited  upon  to  obtain  their  Certificate  and  Counte- 
nance, would  not  even  deign  or  show  the  least  desire  of  inform-  ~ 
ing  themselves  of  the  principles  which  I  ment  to  go  upon;  ns 
if  they  were  affraid  that  they  should  be  convinced  that  it 
their  duty  to  support  me;  and  others,  who  did  say  that  the 


206  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

could  not  assert  that  the  plan  was  equatable  and  just,  although 
it  was  clearly  stated,  as  evident  as  any  problem  in  Euclid,  that 
theBallancewas  [not]  against  the  steamboat  company,  yet  refused 
to  sign  it  on  them  principles. 

Others  refused  to  sign  it  because  they  could  not  say  that  they 
thought  it  was  the  duty  of  every  good  citizen  to  render  real  ser- 
vice to  themselves,  their  Country,  and  their  Nation. 

Such  base  injustice  to  the  man  who  has  spent  his  whole  for- 
tune, with  five  or  six  years,  to  serve  these  very  men,  and  the 
world  of  mankind  at  large,  must  be  sensibly  felt  by  a  man  of 
fealings  ;  yet,  Sir,  I  dispise  such  petty  imbarrassments  as  the 
whole  members  on  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  can  throw  in 
my  way. 

But  should  we  say  that  your  Country  should  be  deprived  of 
so  valuable  a  machine  for  Fourteen  years,  the  resentment  would 
be  just.  But  it  is  not  that  part  that  I  mean  to  act,  but  upon 
more  noble  principles  ;  and  convince  the  little,  suspicious  minds, 
that  I  am  not  capable  of  injuring  myself  for  the  sake  of  injuring 
others. 

"Worthy  Sir,  I  ask  no  more  good  men  in  that  Country  than 
what  would  have  saved  Sodom  and  Gomorrow  from  Fire  and 
Brimston,  to  Effect  the  greatest  revolution  which  that  Country 
ever  did  or  ever  will  experiance,  and  am  confident  I  have  found 
one  in  you ;  and  permit  me  to  return  you  the  thanks  which  is 
due  you  from  you  Country,  and  adress  you  on  the  scheme  which 
I  propose  to  persue. 

Sir,  I  am  determined  that  the;  Navigation  of  the  Mississippi 
and  Ohio  shall  be  made  easy,  whether  the  Western  people  will 
have  it  or  no. 

I  really  Pitty  men  who  have  worryed  at  the  Oar  these  six 
thousand  years  past,  and  am  detirmined  to  releive  them  ;  and 
you  may  be  a  principle  promoter  of  so  great  an  event,  which 
will  cause  inconceivable  revolutions  in  your  Country. 

I  do  know  that  the  liberal  principles  on  which  I  go  will  com- 
mand sufficient  money  for  the  present  to  carry  it  into  effect. 

This  is,  Sir,  to  request  to  think  of  the  matter,  and  consult 
with  yourself,  before  my  arrival  at  Pitt,  whether  you  can  patron- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  297 

ise  the  scheme  for  20  shares,  or  in  partnership  with  another,  so 
as  to  build  a  boat  for  that  place. 

If  you  can,  sir,  I  pledge  my  reputation,  and  you  may  esteem 
it  as  coming  from  an  honest  man,  that  I  will  ascend  the  Ohio 
river  one  hundred  miles  in  twenty  four  hours. 

I  trust  that  you  will  pardon  this  intrusion,  and  hope  to  be 
esteemed  by  you, 

Your  Most  Devoted, 

Humble  Servant, 

JOHN  FITCH. 
The  honorable  General  Gibson. 

This  proposal  was  not  agreed  to  by  General  Gibson, 
and  the  West  was  thereby  retarded  in  the  progress 
which  the  steam-boat  would  have  effected,  and  which 
the  same  invention  has  since  so  wonderfully  aided  in 
producing. 

The  work  upon  the  Perseverance  continued,  and  it 
was  hoped  that  it  would  be  finished  in  time  to  save  the 
benefit  of  the  Virginia  law.  This  expectation  was  dis- 
appointed. A  violent  north-east  storm  arose.  After 
having  blown  from  that  quarter  for  a  day  and  part  of 
a  night,  the  wind  suddenly  shifted  to  the  north-west. 
The  boat  was  broken  from  her  moorings,  and  drifted 
upon  Petty's  Island,  opposite  the  upper  part  of  Phila- 
delphia. The  tide  was  very  high  at  the  time,  and  the 
Perseverance  was  driven  so  far  upon  the  land  that  it 
was  impossible  to  get  her  off  for  ten  or  twelve  days. 
There  was  now  no  possibility  of  complying  with  the 
law  of  Virginia,  and  that  project  was  abandoned. 

Both  boats  were  now  laid  up  for  the  winter.  The 
Act  of  Congress  of  April  10,  1790,  entitled  "  an  Act 
for  the  encouragement  of  useful  arts,"  was  not  ne- 


298  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

glected.  It  vested  the  granting  of  exclusive  rights  to 
inventions  in  the  Secretary  of  State,  Secretary  of  War, 
and  Attorney-General.  To  those  officers  the  following 
petition  was  presented : 

To  the  Honorable,  the  Secretary  of  State,  the  Secretary  of 
"War,  and  the  Attorney  General, 

The  Petition  of  John  Fitch,  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
humbly  sheweth : 

That  your  Petitioner,  in  the  Spring  of  the  Year  One  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  eighty  five,  conceived  the  idea  of  applying 
steam  to  the  purposes  of  propelling  vessels  through  the  water ; 
that,  fully  satisfied  in  his  own  mind  of  the  practicability  of  such 
a  scheme,  of  its  great  immediate  utility,  and  the  important  ad- 
vantages which  would  in  future  result  therefrom,  not  only  to 
America,  but  to  the  world  at  large,  if  the  scheme  could  be  car- 
ried into  efifectual  operation,  he  divested  himself  of  every  other 
occupation,  and  undertook  the  arduous  task  ;  not  doubting  that 
•when  perfected  he  should  be  amply  rewarded.  In  his  first 
attempts  to  procure  assistance  from  Congress  and  the  Legisla- 
tures of  many  of  the  states,  from  the  peculiar  situation  of  their 
finances,  and  the  seeming  impossibility  of  the  success  of  the 
scheme,  he  met  with  no  releif.  Not  entirely  discouraged  by 
those  dissapointments,  he  continued  his  application  to  his  pro- 
ject, and  prayed  several  of  the  states  for  an  exclusive  right  for 
the  use  of  fire  and  steam  to  navigation  ;  that  New  Jersey,  New 
York,  Delaware,  Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia  granted  him  an 
exclusive  right,  agreeably  to  the  prayer  of  his  Petition,  for 
fourteen  years ; 

That  the  impracticability  of  procuring  experienced  workmen 
in  America,  your  Petitioner's  total  ignorance  of  the  construction 
of  a  steam-engine,  together  with  the  necessary  deviation  from 
the  form  described  in  books,  in  order  to  accommodate  its  weight 
and  bulk  to  the  narrow  limits  of  a  vessel,  have  caused  him  not 
only  to  expend  about  eight  thousand  Dollars  in  successive  expe- 
riments, but  nearly  four  years  of  some  of  his  grants  have  ex- 
pired before  he  has  been  able  to  bring  his  engine  to  such  a 
degree  of  perfection  as  to  be  carried  into  use ; 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  299 

That  having  at  length  fully  succeeded  in  his  scheme,  proof  of 
•which  he  is  prepared  to  offer,  he  trusts  he  now  comes  forward, 
not  as  an  imaginary  projector,  but  as  a  man  who,  contrary  to 
the  popular  expectation,  has  really  accomplished  a  design  which 
on  examination  will  clearly  evince  the  many  and  important 
advantages  which  must  result  therefrom  to  the  United  States ; 
some  of  which  your  petitioner  begs  leave  to  enumerate : 

The  western  waters  of  the  United  States,  which  have  hitherto 
been  navigated  with  great  difficulty  and  expence,  may  now  be 
ascended  with  safety,  conveniency,  and  great  velocity  ;  conse- 
quently, by  these  means  an  immediate  increased  value  will  be 
given  to  the  Western  Territory  ;  all  the  internal  waters  of  the 
United  States  will  be  rendered  much  more  convenient  and  safe, 
and  the  carriage  on  them  much  more  expeditious ;  that  from 
these  advantages  will  result  a  great  saving  in  the  labour  of  men 
and  horses,  as  well  as  expence  to  the  traveller. 

Your  Petitioner  also  conceives  that  the  introduction  of  a  com- 
plete steam  engine,  formed  upon  the  newest  and  best  principles, 
into  such  a  country  as  America,  where  labour  is  high,  would 
entitle  him  to  public  countenance  and  encouragement,  indepen- 
dant  of  its  use  in  navigation.  He  begs  leave  to  say  that  the 
great  length  of  time  and  vast  sum  of  money  expended  in  bring- 
ing the  scheme  to  perfection  have  been  wholly  occasioned  by 
his  total  ignorance  of  the  improved  state  of  steam  engines ;  a 
perfect  knowledge  of  which  has  not  been  acquired  without  an 
infinite  number  of  fruitless  experiments  ;  for  not  a  person  could 
be  found  who  was  acquainted  with  the  minutiae  of  Bolton  & 
Watt's  new  engine ;  and  whether  your  petitioner's  engine  is 
similar  or  not  to  those  in  England,  he  is  at  this  moment  totally 
ignorant,  but  is  happy  to  say  that  he  is  now  able  to  make  a 
complete  steam  engine  which,  in  its  effects,  he  believes,  is  equal 
to  the  best  in  Europe,  the  construction  of  which  he  has  never 
kept  a  secret ; 

That,  on  his  first  undertaking  the  scheme,  he  knew  there  were 
a  great  number  of  ways  of  applying  the  power  of  steam  to  the 
propelling  of  vessels  through  the  water,  perhaps  all  equally 
effective  ;  but  this  formed  no  part  of  his  consideration,  knowing 
that  if  he  could  bring  his  steam  engine  to  work  in  a  boat,  he 


300  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

•would  be  under  no  difficulty  in  applying  its  force ;  therefore  he 
trusts  that  no  interference  with  him  in  propelling  boats  by 
steam,  under  any  pretence  of  a  different  mode  of  application, 
•will  be  permitted.  For  should  that  be  the  case,  the  employment 
of  his  time,  and  the  amazing  expence  attending  the  perfection 
of  his  scheme,  would,  whilst  they  gave  the  world  a  valuable 
discovery,  and  America  peculiar  and  important  advantages, 
eventuate  in  the  total  ruin  of  your  Petitioner ;  for  a  thousand 
different  modes  may  be  applied  by  subsequent  navigators,  all 
of  them  benefitting  by  the  labour  and  expence  of  your  Peti- 
tioner, and  sharing  with  him  those  profits  which  they  never 
earned.  Such  a  consequence  he  is  confident  will  not  be  per- 
mitted by  your  honorable  body. 

Your  Petitioner  therefore  prays  that  your  honors  will  take  the 
subject  of  his  petition  into  consideration;  and  by  granting  him 
an  exclusive  right  to  the  use  of  steam  navigation  for  a  limited 
time,  do  him  that  justice  which  he  conceives  he  merits,  and 
•which  he  trusts  will  redound  to  the  honor  and  add  to  the  true 
interests  of  America ;  and  your  Petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound, 
shall  ever  pray.  JOHX  FITCH. 

New  York,  22nd  June,  1790. 

This  petition  was  preferred  as  a  matter  of  form,  but 
the  triumph  of  the  steam-boat  was  so  complete,  that 
the  elated  inventor  even  hoped  that  his  case  might  be 
made  an  exception  to  the  law  "  to  promote  the  progress 
of  useful  arts ;"  and  knowing  that  the  members  of 
Congress,  who  were  then  assembled  at  New  York, 
were  cognizant  of  his  perfect  success,  he  ventured  to 
ask  the  privilege  which  he  craved. 

July  1,  1790. — A  petition  of  John  Fitch  was  presented  to  the 
house,  and  read,  praying  that  an  exclusive  right  may  be  granted 
to  him  to  the  use  of  steam  to  navigation  in  the  United  States  for 
a  limited  time. 

Ordered  the  said  petition  to  lay  on  the  table.1 

1  Journal  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States,  Session  of  1790,  page  155. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  301 

Friday,  July  2,  1790.  —  The  Petition  of  John  Fitch  was  read, 
stating  sundry  improvements  which  he  has  made  "  in  applying 
steam  to  the  purpose  of  propelling  boats  or  vessels  through  the 
•water,"  and  requesting  "  a  law  in  his  favour,  independent  of  the 
General  one  now  in  force." 

Ordered,  that  this  Petition  lie  on  the  table.1 

Failing  in  this  endeavor,  he  again  addressed  the 
Commissioners.  Another  petition  was  presented  to 
them  on  the  22d  of  November.  The  next  day,  they 
appointed  the  first  Monday  in  February,  1791,  to  hear 
all  the  applicants  for  patents  for  inventions  in  which 
steam  was  used  for  a  motive  power.  These  were  John 
Fitch,  James  Rumsey,  and  John  Stevens,  who  asked 
patents  for  steam-boats  and  steam  machinery,  and 
Nathan  Read  and  Isaac  Briggs,  for  steam-wagons. 
During  this  delay,  attempts  were  made  to  induce  new 
parties  to  aid  in  the  steam-boat  enterprise.  In  that 
spirit  the  following  letter,  curious  for  the  estimates 
which  it  contains,  was  written  to  Robert  Morris,  the 
eminent  financier,  patriot,  and  statesman.  The  epistle 
was  not  transmitted  until  three  months  after  its  date. 

Worthy  Honored  Sir : 

The  subscriber  humbly  begs  leave  to  address  you 
on  a  scheme  of  the  first  importance  to  yourself  and  Country. 

I  know,  Sir,  I  stand  on  the  most  unfavourable  ground  to  pro- 
pose anything  new ;  for,  by  unforeseen  and  unavoidable  events, 
the  City  of  Philad.  have  become  my  Enemies. 

The  disgust  which  new  projects  gives  to  many,  my  despicable 
appearance,  my  project  being  calculated  to  make  the  Watermen 
my  Enemies,  the  great  interest  which  Rumsey  has  made  against 
me,  and  the  great  numbers  who  gave  their  opinions  against  my 

1  Journal  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,    2d  Session, 
page  144. 
26 


302  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

scheme,  who  are  loth  to  have  their  judgments  called  in  question, 
it  may  be  supposed  that  I  have  scarsley  a  friend  left. 

The  most  infamous  Characters  or  scheme,  surrounded  with 
friends,  is  applauded ;  the  greatest  virtues,  surrounded  with 
Enemies,  is  treated  with  contempt. 

These  hints,  sir,  will  undoubtedly  satisfy  you  that  I  stand  on 
more  unfavourable  Ground  than  I  ought  to  do  ;  but  I  feel  my- 
self perfectly  easy  while  I  know  the  candour  and  abilities  of 
Mr.  Morriss. 

I  wish,  sir,  to  propose  a  trading  House  at  New  Orleans ;  and 
doubt  not  but  if  Mr.  Morriss  should  patronize  it,  Mr.  Leamy, 
the  Spainish  Consul,  would  give  it  Countenance,  and  probably 
Support. 

The  great  imbarrassments  of  Navigating  the  Mississippi  has 
undoubtedly  prevented  that  place  from  flourishing  in  proportion 
to  the  extent  of  country  which  must  finally  traffic  there. 

The  amazing  expence  of  bringing  back  the  People  who  trans- 
port the  produce  down  that  River,  makes  it  truely  discouraging 
to  the  Exporter,  and  a  natural  tendency  of  Indolence  in  the 
planter.  From  the  Luxurancy  of  the  Soil,  the  number  of  Inha- 
bitants, it  ought  to  be  supposed  that  New  Orleans  should  be  the 
largest  City  in  North  America,  and  the  greatest  trade  carried 
on  there ;  which,  was  the  Navigation  made  easy,  I  apprehend 
would  suddenly  take  place. 

In  the  first  place,  I  wish  to  state  the  difference  between  the 
present  mode  of  navigation  and  navigating  them  waters  by 
steam,  and  make  an  estimate  of  one  Boat,  for  one  year,  of  50 
Tons  Burthen,  and  to  compair  it  with  Dr.  Flowers',  Con1  Bar- 
ber's, and  Capt.  Wood's  Certificates. 

I  suppose  a  steamboat  of  50  tons  burthen,  which  would  make 
four  trips  in  a  year  to  Kentucky,  or  the  Illinois;  and  suppose 
the  Boat  to  be  Double  manned,  and  to  recon  nothing  for  the 
Boats  now  in  use  on  that  River. 

I  estimate  the  steam  boat,  when  compleat  for  the  voiage,  to 
cost  2500  Dollars ;  but  say  £1000 ;  and  to  keep  it  in  perpetual 
repair,  say  it  will  cost  £100  per  year ;  which  Boat  transports 
200  Tons  pr  year. 


'LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  303 

The  interest  of  the  money  is  .         .         .  .  £60  00 

The  repairs 100 

Wages  of  4  men,  say  400  Dollars    .         .  .150 

Enginear,  say 100 

Provision  and  necessarys,  say.         .         .  .    100 

In  all,  is  £510 

For  Transporting  200  Tons  ;  which  reduces  the  price  to  less 
than  2/7d  per  hundred  weight. 

To  transport  200  tons,  according  to  Dr.  Flowers'  estimate, 
amounts  to  £11,850;  which  leaves  a  Ballance  in  favour  of  the 
steamboat  of  £11,340  for  one  boat  only,  for  one  year;  and  at 
this  day  I  presume  that  less  than  ten  or  fifteen  boats  would  not 
do  the  business  of  that  river. 

We  do  know  that  we  can  make  these  Boats  to  ascend  the  Mis- 
sissippi. We  also  know  that  we  can  make  our  works  as  durable 
as  millworks ;  and  by  having  odd  limbs  on  board,  no  part  can. 
fail  but  may  be  repaired  in  two  hours. 

These  Boats,  by  carrying  back  the  People  at  reasonable  rates 
•who  transports  the  produce  down  the  River,  must  soon  make  an 
amazing  ods  in  the  Trade  of  that  Town;  for  the  inhabitants  of 
that  country  could  at  this  day,  with  the  same  industry,  export  as 
much  as  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  East  of  the  Mountains;  and 
as  they  are  at  this  time  bear  of  all  foreign  marcbandize,  much 
of  their  money  would  probably  be  laid  out  that  way. 

An  article  of  agreement,  which  I  doubt  not  but  will  be  exe- 
cuted by  the  steamboat  company,  will  entitle  me  to  convey  one 
half  of  the  said  boats,  as  may  be  erected  by  public  subscription, 
on  generious  principles,  on  them  waters. 

The  owners  of  those  Boats  must  have  many  and  great  advan- 
tages over  other  merchants  in  that  place. 

I  propose  to  reside  there  myself,  and  become  a  Spanish  sub- 
ject; and  hope  to  meet  with  indulgencys  as  such. 

I  have  already  a  pretty  extensive  acquaintance  on  the  Ohio, 
and  shall  this  winter  make  it  much  more  so ;  and  could  they  be 
satisfied  that  I  was  supported  by  people  of  property,  doubt  not 
but  that  a  principle  part  of  the  Trade  of  that  Country  might  be 


304  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH." 

ingroced  by  the  House  ;  and  think  it  may  be  worthy  the  atten- 
tion of  the  most  respectable  Gentlemen  to  persue  it. 

This,  Sir,  will  probably  cause  a  revolution  in  the  Western 
World  more  astonishing  than  the  introduction  of  arts  in  Mus- 
cova  by  Peter,  and  worthy  the  notice  and  consideration  of  Mr. 
Morriss ;  and  pray  that  he  may  have  the  same  secret  pleasure 
and  reward  as  Great  Peter  of  Muscova  had  in  rendering  real 
service  to  his  Country. 

Which  is  the  sincear  wish  of 

Your  ever  Faithful 

Humble  Servant, 

JOHN  FITCH. 
20th  Sept.,  1790. 

The  Honorable  Robert  Morriss,  Esq. 

P.  S. — If  Mr.  Morriss  should  find  it  inconvenient  for  himself 
to  engage  in  this  business,  he  perhaps  might  favour  the  scheme 
so  far  as  to  recommend  it  to  some  of  his  acquaintances,  or  to 
give  his  opinion  where  the  scheme  may  be  defec.ive,  and  to  give 
his  advice  how  it  ought  to  be  persued.  J.  F. 

These  estimates,  he  afterwards  said,  were  probably 
too  high.  He  had  been  informed  that,  on  account  of 
quick  and  sudden  falls  of  water,  it  would  be  dangerous 
to  use  boats  of  fifty  tons ;  which,  by  their  size,  would 
be  prevented  from  taking  advantage  of  eddies,  as 
smaller  boats  might.  He  thought  that  it  would  be 
impossible  to  navigate  the  Mississippi  in  boats  of  larger 
capacity  than  twenty-five  tons.  The  expense  would 
be  thereby  increased,  as  the  cost  of  running  the  smaller 
boat  would  pot  be  reduced  in  proportion.  The  latter 
would  only  save  the  labor  of  twenty  men,  whilst  the 
former  would  dispense  with  the  care  of  forty-five ;  and 
the  expenses  would  not  be  £50  per  year  different. 

Shortly  afterward,  Fitch  commenced  to  write  a  long 
statement  to  the  Commissioners  of  Patents,  in  which 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  305 

he  set  out  his  claims  in  full,  with  the  evidence  he  re- 
lied upon,  and  argued  very  conclusively  in  regard  to 
the  priority  of  his  invention,  and  the  injustice  of  giving 
rights  to  others,  who  had  made  a  different  application 
in  the  mode  of  propulsion  from  his  own. 

He  now  found  himself  deserted  by  all  the  members 
of  the  Company  but  three  or  four.  And  in  order  to 
regain  their  good-will,  and  continuance  of  patronage 
to  the  boat,  he  wrote  them  an  address,  as  follows : 


TO    THE    STEAMBOAT    COMPANY. 

Gentlemen  :  the  convulsed  situation  of  the  Company  throws 
every  thing  into  the  most  tottering  situation. 

After  the  many  thousands  which  you  have  expended  to  bring 
forward  the  most  useful  art  that  was  ever  introduced  into  the 
World,  and  even  after  you  have  perfected  it,  it  seems  that  you 
are  amazed  at  what  you  have  done,  and  lost  in  contemplating, 
in  thinking,  how  the  world  will  gaze  on  the  virtuous  Few  who 
have  so  nobley  and  liberally  rendered  such  essential  service  to 
their  Nation. 

And  shall  we,  after  we  have  perfected  the  scheme,  Eclips  our 
noble  acts  by  leaving  our  works  half  done,  because  we  do  not 
•wish,  or  are  not  protected  in  carrying  on  business  at  the  dis- 
tance of  the  Mississippi  ? 

I  know  that  the  disjointed  situation  of  our  Co.  will  not  per- 
mit us  to  strike  another  stroke  till  some  new  arrangement  shall 
take  place. 

Permit  me  to  suggest  one  proposal  more,  which  is,  Once  more 
to  solicit  Congress  to  give  us  a  tract  of  Land,  to  enable  us  to 
bring  into  practise  what  we  have  perfected. 

We  do  know  that  we  can  assend  the  Mississippi ;  we  also 
know  that  we  can  make  our  Works  as  dureable  as  Mill  Works, 
and  that  we  can  navigate  them  Waters  at  about  one  tenth  of  the 
present  expence  of  Navigation  ;  which  Improvement  will  be 
worth  three  such  Tracts  of  Teritory  as  is  on  the  Western  Waters 
added  to  our  Empire. 

26* 


306  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

That  we  have  brought  our  scheme  so  far  to  perfection  as  to 
convince  the  World  that  a  steam  engine  may  be  introduced  into 
a  Boat  to  advantage,  is  one  of  the  greatest  consolations.  But 
that  the  time  necessarily  employed  in  the  pursute  has  extended 
beyond  the  limit  unfortunately  assigned  by  the  state  of  Virginia, 
is  the  cause  of  our  greatest  greiff.  Our  expectations  of  exten- 
sive profits,  you  well  know,  were  built  on  exclusive  rights  to 
navigate  the  Western  Waters. 

The  immence  difficulties  we  have  had  to  encounter  in  acquir- 
ing the  knoledge  of  the  true  principles  of  a  steam  engine,  toge- 
ther with  the  obstructions  thrown  in  our  way  by  the  claims  set 
up  by  Rumsey  and  his  friends,  waisted  that  portion  of  time 
•which  was  alloted  by  the  state  of  Virginia  to  perfect  two  Boats 
for  the  waters  of  that  state,  agreably  to  the  terms  of  the  law 
granted  in  my  favour. 

You  know  that  one  Boat  has  been  compleated,  and  that  ano- 
ther was  nearly  ready  when  the  terms  of  the  law  expired.  Hard, 
indeed,  were  the  terms  of  that  law ;  but  I  had  no  conception  at 
the  time  of  accepting  them  that  it  would  have  imployed  so 
great  a  length  of  time  merely  to  acquire  the  art  of  making  a 
steam  engine — an  art  familiar  in  England,  but  of  which  all  the 
artizens  I  could  ever  converse  with  in  America,  entirely  igno- 
rant. Thus  we  had  to  explore  an  unbeaten  path,  and  did  not 
assertain  the  true  course  until  we  had  wandered  into  a  thousand 
wrong  Rodes. 

These  attempts,  you  too  well  know,  have  been  attended  by  an. 
enormous  expence  ;  and  failing  at  last  in  our  great  object  of  the 
Western  Waters,  your  spirits  of  exertion  I  sadly  perceive  begins 
to  fail.  No  exertions  of  mine  have  been  wanting,  but  the  fates 
have  been  against  us.  What  are  we  to  do  ?  Are  we  to  relinquish 
the  once  pleasing  prospect  of  success,  and  quietly  sit  down 
under  our  Losses?  or  shall  we  make  one  more  Bold  eifort,  and 
cast  ourselves  upon  the  Honour  and  generosity  of  our  Country? 

I  well  know  that  we  have  opponants,  and  powerful  opponants, 
too  ;  but  I  flatter  myself  that  our  Rights  will  be  viewed  through 
the  medium  of  justice,  rather  than  interest;  that  our  Country 
will  perceive  that,  having  first  promulgated  the  Idea  of  steam- 
boats, in  a  manner  not  to  be  lost,  as  my  Petition  was  presented 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  307 

to  Congress  in  August,  1785,  and  having  carried  ^  Idea  into 
effectual  operation,  will  secure  me  every  right  and  title  which 
the  most  sanguine  inventor  could  hope  for. 

If  any  were  before  me  in  thought,  it  was  in  thought  only  ;  and 
my  discovery  was  the  only  one  that  was  made  known  to  the 
world  ;  and  had  Idroped  into  oblivion,  my  discovery  must  have 
ever  remained  on  record ;  whilst  those  of  any  other  pretenders 
ever  concealed  until  mine  made  a  nois  in  the  world,  might  have 
sunk,  with  their  Inventors,  into  everlasting  silence. 

On  this  principle  you  know  that  I  have  contended  my  uni- 
versal Priority  ;  and  further,  that  no  subsequent  Pretender  could 
come  forward  with  propriety,  under  pretence  of  a  variation  in 
the  mode  of  applying  the  power;  for  I  assert  it  as  fixed  prin- 
ciple, that  the  invention  is  in  the  thought  of  applying  the  action 
of  steam  to  navigation,  and  not  in  the  mode  of  effecting  it ;  other- 
wise, my  whole  project  might  be  wrested  from  me  by  a  subse- 
quent Pretender,  mearly  by  the  plea  of  applying  the  power  of 
steam  in  some  other  mode  than  that  which  I  first  began  with. 

So  sensible  were  all  the  Legislatures  who  granted  me  Pattants 
of  the  force  of  this  reasoning,  that  they  all  gave  me  the  exclu- 
sive right  of  steam  to  Navigation. 

Under  this  Patronage  I  began  my  Works,  and  you  advanced 
your  money,  little  expecting  the  difficulties  that  we  had  to  en- 
counter; nearly  £4000  have  been  expended,  and  your  prospects 
are  vanishing  away. 

I  feel  distressed  at  the  thought  of  asking  you  to  advance 
more,  but  more  distressed  at  the  thought  of  abandoning  a 
scheme  now  so  fully  assertained. 

You  will  ask  me  what  I  propose.  I  will  tell  you,  Gentlemen, 
my  views.  They  are  still  extended  to  the  waters  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

Could  I  gain  your  permission,  I  would  apply  to  Congress  for 
patronage  to  a  scheme  which  cannot  fail  to  give  an  immence 
increase  of  value  to  the  western  teritory.  Should  I  take  a  boat 
from  hence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  and  thence,  by  the 
power  of  steam,  assend  those  waters  to  the  Rapids  of  the  Ohio, 
I  should  conceive  that  I  conferred  the  greatest  benefit,  in  a 
pecuniary  sence,  that  America  ever  experienced ;  and  I  have  no 


308  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

doubt  but  Congress  would  grant  me,  by  way  of  incouragement, 
a  Tract  of  at  least  50,000  acres,  as  a  Reeompence —  small, 
indeed,  when  compaired  with  the  amazing  advantages  to  that 
Country. 

Would  you,  Gentlemen,  so  far  countenance  my  application  as 
to  support  me  hear  for  only  three  months,  —  for  mj  all  is  now 
expended,  my  last  Certificate  is  sold  and  gone,  —  I  will  imploy 
that  time  in  soliciting  the  grant  from  Congress. 

Gentlemen,  I  would  ask  on  the  special  terms  of  carrying  our 
new  Boat  to  the  Rapids.  Under  such  a  promis  on  the  part  of 
Congress,  I  have  no  doubt  but  I  could  form  a  new  Co.,  should 
the  old  one  decline  the  expence.  You,  it  is  true,  have  spent 
largely  on  my  scheme ;  but  I  have  dissipated  the  last  farthing 
I  have  in  the  world,  yet  am  not  dismayed,  if  my  Country  will 
yet  take  me  by  the  hand. 

I  have  given  my  country  a  most  valuable  discovery,  on  the 
30  of  August,  1785,  for  which  I  have  received  no  compensation  ; 
and  I  doubt  not  but  common  justice  will  induce  them  to  do 
somthing  for  me  ;  especially  when  they  can  do  it  for  the  benefit 
of  our  Empire. 

Another  inducement  which  urges  me  to  persue  this  scheme  is, 
to  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  future  Generations  to  make  excuses 
for  the  present  one.  And  if  I  should  die  in  penury,  want, 
wretchedness,  and  Rags,  that  my  country  may  have  no  excuse, 
and  that  I  may  have  the  secret  pleasure  in  the  contemplation 
of  receiving  real  pitty  from  future  Generations. 

All  of  which  is  humbly  submitted  to  the  Company, 

By 

25  Dec.,  1790.  JOHN  FITCH. 

The  want  of  continued  employment  seems  to  have 
led  the  active  mind  of  Fitch,  about  this  time,  into  a 
new  field.  We  have  hitherto  stated  how  his  feelings 
became  prejudiced  against  the  Christian  religion  in 
consequence  of  early  impressions.  The  rigid  disci- 
pline to  which  he  was  subjected  by  his  father,  doubt- 
less had  its  influence.  The  odium  which  he  incurred 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  809 

from  the  Methodists  of  Trenton,  upon  account  of  his 
working  on  the  Sabbath  during  the  busy  times  of  the 
Revolution,  when  the  repairing  of  arms  for  defence 
was  considered  a  necessity,  must  have  excited  a  tem- 
perament which  could  not  brook  unmerited  censure. 
The  refusal  of  leading  members  of  the  Methodist  per- 
suasion in  New  York  to  even  see  him,  when  he  arrived 
at  that  port  in  a  cartel-ship,  after  his  captivity,  no 
doubt  completed  his  disgust  at  those  who  professed 
Christianity.  He  became  a  Deist,  in  the  sense  which 
now  distinguishes  Unitarianism.  The  Socinian  doc- 
trines which  he  advocated  were  embraced  by  Voight 
and  others.  They  believed  that  there  was  one  mighty 
God,  the  creator  and  ruler  of  the  universe,  but  they 
rejected  the  tenet  that  Jesus  Christ  was  his  son.  The 
latter  was  regarded  by  Fitch  and  his  friends  as  a  great 
teacher,  but  not  as  inspired.  The  estimate  which  the 
steam-boat  builder  placed  upon  the  Saviour  is  shown 
by  the  following  extract  from  his  writing,  which  is  a 
specimen  of  humility  mingled  with  strong  self-conceit : 

"My  despicable  appearance,  my  uncouth  way  of  speaking 
and  holding  up  extravagant  ideas,  and  so  bad  in  address,  munt 
ever  make  me  unpopular ;  but  was  I  a  hansom  man  and  a  good 
Riter,  I  could  do  now  more  than  Jesus  Christ  or  George  Fox 
did." 

The  expressions  of  opinion  upon  the  subject  of  reli- 
gion which  were  made  by  Fitch  and  Voight,  met  with 
approval  by  some  persons  to  whom  they  were  spoken. 
It  was  resolved  to  form  an  association  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  such  doctrines,  and  to  call  it  "  the  Universal 
Society."  In  order  to  detach  it  from  Christian  influ- 


310  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

ences,  the  members  agreed  to  count  the  year  from  the 
institution  of  the  club.  This  took  place  on  the  25th 
of  February,  1790 — at  least  the  first  recorded  minutes 
were  of  the  proceedings  upon  that  day.  Fitch  very 
strenuously  endeavored  to  have  the  anniversary  fixed 
January  21st,  so  that,  in  future  celebrations  of  the 
important  event,  he  might  have  the  "secret  pleasure  " 
of  knowing  that  they  were  celebrating  his  birthday. 
The  members  of  the  Society,  who  knew  not  the  hidden 
vanity  which  impelled  the  suggestion,  could  not  see 
any  reason  for  adopting  a  day  which  had  no  associa- 
tions connected  with  it;  and  to  the  "secret  chagrin" 
of  the  conceited  proposer,  they  negatived  a  proposal 
for  which  they  could  discover  no  argument.  The  Uni- 
versal Society  began  to  meet  regularly  in  the  autumn 
of  1790,  and  there  were  then  thirty  members.  The 
code  of  morals  inculcated  by  its  laws  was  very  strict. 
A  breach  of  honor,  or  the  want  of  honor,  was  to  be 
punished  with  great  severity,  and  the  penalty  was  to 
be  nothing  less  than  expulsion.  Any  offence  against 
the  laws  of  God  and  nature  was  to  be  similarly  re- 
proved, and  the  founders  of  the  association  seemed  to 
think  that  the  dread  of  such  measures  would  be  suffi- 
cient to  restrain  the  evil  passions  of  their  associates. 
The  Society  met  weekly,  for  instruction,  conference, 
and  debate  upon  moral  and  philosophical  topics.  Sub- 
jects were  also  assigned  to  the  members  to  be  treated 
upon  in  essays.  The  following  are  some  of  the  ques- 
tions thus  submitted.  Those  marked  with  an  asterisk 
were  proposed  by  Fitch  : 

*  Is  a  plurality  of  wives  right  or  wrong? 

*  What  are  the  duties  of  men,  &  how  are  they  to  be  known  f 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  311 

*  Is  there  any  such  thing  as  conscience,  or  does  not  what  we 
call  conscience  arise  altogether  from  education? 

*  Is  there  any  Religion  which  can  be  framed  useful  to  society  ? 
If   there   is,    on   what    principles    ought  that  religion   to   be 
founded? 

Is  there  a  Providence?  j   .Y  •; 

Are  there  any  punishments  or  rewards  after  this  life  ? 

*  Did  all  mankind  proceed  from  one  man  &  woman  ? 

Are  the  Generality  of  mankind  rendered  more  happy  or  mise- 
rable in  this  life  from  a  conviction  that  they  shall  exist  in  a 
future  state? 

*Can  suicide  be  a  noble  act  in  any  case  whatever? 

*  Ought  Duelling  to  be  countenanced  by  Government,  or  not? 
Are  the  Prayers  of  finite  creatures  of  any  avail  with  Deity  ? 
Are  not  men  &  other  animals  composed  of  the  same  kind  of 

matter  ? 

*  What  make  North  America  colder  in  winter  than  other  coun- 
tries in  the  same  degree  of  North  Latitude  ? 

*  What  was  the  passion  of  Envy  given  to  men  for,  or  what 
use  could  it  be  of  in  this  world? 

Have  any  passions  at  all  been  given  to  men  ? 
How  comes  it  that  men  are  more  susceptible  of  reason  than 
other  animals? 

*  Which  do  we  derive  the  greatest  benefits  from,  our  Friends 
or  Enemies,  as  to  useful  lessons  in  life? 

*  Do  not  all  men  enjoy  an  equal  share  of  happiness  in  this 
world  ? 

*  Why  is  the  Eastern  part  of  our  Continent  more  sandy, 
rocky,  broken,  and  Barren  than  it  is  west  of  the  Alleghany 
mountains  ? 

Would  not  less  sanguinary  Punishments  than  that  of  death, 
for  capital  crimes,  be  of  more  extensive  utility? 

Why  are  particular  species  of  animals  more  obedient  to  men 
than  to  any  other? 

Can  a  man  love  a  being  whom  he  has  never  seen  ? 

What  is  matter  ? 

What  is  the  cause  of  attraction  ? 


812  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Should  a  magnetic  noodle  made  with  two  points,  thns,  ^ <^ 

with  a  brass  pointer  between  the  points  marked,  be  less  liable 
to  variation  than  that  in  present  use  ? 

*Is  life  an  element,  or  not? 

Is  .gratitude  due  from  the  young  to  their  parents,  for  their 
care  and  protection  in  raising  and  nursing  them  when  not  able 
to  protect  themselves? 

In  March,  1791,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Palmer,  who  had 
been  a  preacher  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Philadelphia, 
was  dispossessed  of  his  pulpit  in  consequence  of  he- 
retical teaching.  Some  followers  seceded  with  him 
from  the  congregation.  They  obtained  a  room  in 
Church  Alley,  and  on  the  succeeding  Sabbath  Mr. 
Palmer  preached  from  the  6th  chapter  of  Malachi,  8th 
verse :  *  Love  mercy,  deal  justly,  walk  humbly  before 
our  God."  The  Universal  Society  united  with  his  fol- 
lowers on  that  occasion.  The  hall  was  crowded;  and 
Mr.  Palmer,  taking  advantage  of  the  prepossession  of 
his  audience,  denied  the  divinity  of  Christ  in  the 
course  of  his  sermon.  This  meeting  emboldened  the 
participators,  and  it  was  announced  in  the  newspapers 
that  on  the  succeeding  Sabbath  Mr.  Palmer  would 
again  preach  Unitarianism.  The  religious  community 
took  alarm.  The  right  Rev.  Bishop  White,  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  used  his  influence  upon 
the  owner  of  the  building  where  the  meeting  was  to  be 
held,  and  he,  becoming  frightened  by  threats  of  pro- 
secution, refused  permission  to  use  it  for  such  purposes 
again ;  and  from  that  date  may  be  fixed  the  dissolution 
of  the  Universal  Society,  which  never  celebrated  more 
than  one  anniversary  of  its  formation. 


.LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  313 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

DISASTERS — LUKEWARMNESS   OF   THE   COMPANY — U.    S. 
PATENT. 

APPLICATION  seems  to  have  been  made  about  this 
time,  by  Fitch,  for  various  offices.  He  petitioned  the 
Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  which  assembled  after 
the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1790  for  the  post 
of  Sergeant-at-Arms.  He  solicited  Robert  Morris  to 
procure  for  him,  in  1791,  the  post  of  "  Supervisor  of 
Roads,  or  Surveyor  of  Roads  and  Rivers."  These 
efforts  were  unavailing.  Fitch  and  Voight  then  both 
made  application  for  situations  in  the  Mint  of  the 
United  States ;  hoping  that  whilst  they  held  those 
offices  they  would  have  time  to  perfect  the  steam-boat. 
In  their  petition  it  was  stated,  "  John  Fitch  is  a  gold- 
smith by  trade,  and  flatters  himself  that  he  could 
render  essential  service  to  his  country  as  assay-master. 
Henry  Voight  is  perfectly  acquainted  with  the  process 
of  coining,  and  of  all  machinery  for  the  business,  and 
can  make  the  instruments  himself,  having  worked  at  it 
in  Germany  for  several  years."  Dr.  Ewing,  David 
Rittenhouse,  Andrew  Ellicott,  and  Dr.  Patterson  re- 
commended the  appointment  of  the  pair  to  the  posts 
they  desired.  The  result  was  that  Voight  was  suc- 
cessful, having  been  appointed  Chief  Coiner  ;  a  posi- 
tion he  held  for  many  years.  But  Fitch,  unlucky  as 
usual,  did  not  gain  the  prize.  The  recommendations 
2T 


.314  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

•which  he  received  were  such  as  proved  the  high  esteem 
of  those  to  whom  his  patient,  honest  qualities  were 
known.  Dr.  Ewing  said,  in  his  letter  addressed  to 
General  Washington,  as  President  of  the  United 
States,  "  I  have  ever  esteemed  him  as  an  ingenious  man, 
and  a  gentleman  of  the  strictest  integrity  and  diligence 
in  his  business,  executing  any  trust  committed  to  him 
•with  the  greatest  fidelity,  and  believe  his  modesty  is 
such  that  he  would  not  undertake  an  employment 
which  he  was  not  persuaded  he  had  sufficient  ability  to 
execute."  Rittenhouse,  Ellicott,  and  Patterson  ex- 
pressed their  hearty  concurrence  in  this  eulogium. 

Whilst  matters  were  waiting  for  the  action  of  the 
Commissioners  of  Patents,  a  proposition  was  made  in 
Congress  to  amend  the  law  on  the  subject.  On  the 
9th  of  December,  1790,  a  Committee  was  appointed 
to  prepare  amendments  to  the  bill  to  promote  the  pro- 
gress of  the  useful  arts,  consisting  of  Mr.  White  and 
Mr.  Seney.  On  the  2d  of  February,  1791,  they  re- 
ported "  a  bill  to  amend  an  act  intituled  '  an  act  to 
promote  the  progress  of  useful  arts.'  "  Fitch  was,  as 
usual,  promptly  prepared  to  remonstrate.  The  Journal 
tells  the  story  thus  : 

Thursday,  Feb.  10,  1791.  —  A  Petition  and  remonstrance  of 
John  Fitch  was  presented  to  the  house  and  read,  complaining 
of  the  injurious  operation  which  the  bill  now  before  Congress, 
intituled  "  a  bill  to  amend  the  act  to  promote  the  progress  of 
useful  arts,"  will  have  upon  his  interests,  should  the  same  be 
passed  into  a  law. 

Ordered,  that  the  said  Petition  and  remonstrance  do  lie  upon, 
the  table.1 

1  Journal  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States,  Session  of  1790-91,  page  60. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  315 

This  proposition  had  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
Commissioners  under  the  first  act,  and  they  refused  to 
proceed  under  it,  supposing  that  the  amended  law 
would  be  passed. 

Fitch  received  notice  on  the  26th  of  January,  1791, 
that  the  hearing  previously  designated  would  be  post- 
poned until  after  the  session  of  Congress  was  termi- 
nated. He  remonstrated  by  letter  the  next  day,  and 
on  the  day  following  waited  on  Mr.  Jefferson  and  the 
other  Commissioners.  He  appealed  to  them  in  virtue 
of  his  distresses,  and  urged  that  he  was  kept  in  idle- 
ness and  suspense  until  their  decision  should  be  made. 
"  I  showed  them,"  said  he,  "all  the  clothes  I  had  in 
the  world,  except  a  few  old  shirts,  and  two  or  three 
pair  of  old  yarn  stockings,  all  in  darns,  like  those 
which  I  had  on,  that  they  could  see  I  was  there  all  in 
rags."  Appeals  like  these  were  useless ;  the  Com- 
missioners were  not  to  be  affected  by  the  presence  of 
a  poor,  wretched  genius,  whom  they  knew  was  derided 
as  a  madman.  The  bill  of  Mr.  White,  of  Virginia, 
Fitch  suspected  was  originated  by  the  Rumseian  So- 
ciety. He  said  it  was  "good  for  the  improver,  but 
not  for  the  original  inventor."  The  proposition  was 
brought  forward,  however,  at  too  late  a  period  in  the 
session  to  be  successful.  Congress  adjourned  on  the 
3d  of  March,  and  on  the  next  day  Fitch  waited  on 
Mr.  Jefferson ;  and  so  on,  day  after  day,  until,  to  get 
rid  of  the  persevering  pest,  the  Commissioners  ap- 
pointed the  first  day  of  April  to  hear  the  steam-boat 
cases. 

During  the  delay,  an  application  was  made  to  Robert 


316  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Morris  and  Oliver  Pollock,1  to  induce  them  to  become 
interested  in  the  improvement.  This  paper  contains 
many  suggestions  Avhich  will  now  excite  smiles ;  so 
amazing  has  been  the  change  in  mechanics  and  navi- 
gation. The  proposition  bears  date  February  26, 
1791. 

1  "Oliver  Pollock,  a  native  of  Ireland,  settled  in  New  Orleans 
before  the  American  Kevolution  ;  whore  he  amassed  a  large  for- 
tune in  mercantile  business.  New  Orleans  then  belonged  to  the 
Spaniards,  who,  at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  took  no  part 
in  favour  of  the  Colonies.  This  did  not  prevent  Mr.  Pollock 
from  rendering  efficient  services  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  which 
he  ardently  embraced.  He  had  an  opportunity  of  showing  his 
sentiments  on  the  following  occasion : 

"Col.  Gibson,  of  Pittsburg,  father  of  [the  late]  Chief  Justice 
Gibson,  of  Pennsylvania,  undertook  a  most  arduous  and  perilous 
journey  to  New  Orleans,  by  order  of  the  Governor  of  Virginia, 
to  purchase  powder  .for  the  American  Army.  The  Spanish 
authorities  could  not  openly  sanction  this  transaction ;  but 
through  the  good  offices,  tact,  and  influence  of  Mr.  Pollock,  the 
Gunpowder  was  purchased  and  shipped  to  Philadelphia.  In  the 
Journals  of  Congress  [Vol.  6,  page  244]  is  a  notice  of  a  bill  of 
Exchange  drawn  by  Oliver  Pollock,  at  New  Orleans,  on  Con- 
gress, for  six  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty  six  Dollars,  and 
duly  accepted ;  which,  doubtless,  was  to  reimburse  him  for  this 
purchase.  It  is  worthy  to  mention  here,  as  an  instance  of  the 
hardships,  dangers,  and  sacrifices  which  the  patriots  of  the  Re- 
volution cheerfully  encountered,  that  Col.  Gibson  returned  from 
New  Orleans  to  Pittsburg  on  foot,  through  regions  either  unin- 
habited by  man,  or  inhabited  only  by  Indians,  many  of  them 
hostile.  Towards  the  end  of  the  war,  we  find  Mr.  Pollock  at- 
tending the  meeting  of  the  Friendly  Sons  of  St.  Patrick,  of 
•which  he  became  a  member  in  1783.  He  afterwards  settled  in 
Carlisle,  Pa.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the  Hibernian 
Society." — A  brief  Account  of  the  Society  of  the  Friendly  Sons 
of  St.  Patrick,  by  Samuel  Hood,  page  79. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  317 

PROPOSALS  OF  JOHX  FITCH    FOR  COMPLEATING    THE    STEAMBOAT  PER- 
SEVERANCE   ESTIMATE,    4C. 

Money  paid  towards  the  Boat        .          ^,-_,       .£31600 
Do.  due  for  debts  on  her          .         '<•*„,.-•       .  11000 

Do.  Cocks  .  .  .  .  .  22  00 

Tubes  for  Boiler  and  Cylinder  .       -T  „,   ;v         12  00 

A  strong  tube,  to  unite  the  air  pump  and  Con-     ^>"  , 
denser  with  other  Tubes,  making  Condensing 

tub,  &o.      ^v,.;.,....^'* ->-•>-.,.'   •••-    '     •' -       8  °° 

Condenser  and  Pump  valves    .         ,'^--    *.'•«./•  600 

Plunger  and  Caps  of  the  cylinder,  Jackhead,  &c.  11  00 

Regulating  Works  and  fixing  .       >'  .  J     :       .  8  00 

Cogwheels  and  fixing        .       ••","    '.'.i.~£       .  1000 

Iron  work  for  Paddles .       -V-*^         '•-.'      W.  "  °° 

Boreing  air  pump .            *    ^  >;"  ^  '  '    >     t       •  6  00 

Puting  the  works  in  the  Boat  .        ,-.,*.  '  ^.  •  30  00 

Coppersmith's  bill  for  uniteing  the  tubes  &c.       .  7  00 

Iron  work,  not  bespoke           '•',  :  ~,       .       ,   -*  20  00 

For  raising  the  Boat,  Deck,  Masts,  and  sails        .  100  00 

For  extra  expence,  not  thought  of       .       . '...  3000 
Superintendant      .             .        .  .'**•  '  t  ' /£ •  _ ,  .      ,  V  20  00 

723  00 


But  say      .       '•"' ^''  v'   i.    '  -T.   :       75000 

50  00 


£800  00 

Money  Paid  ....  £316  00 

3  Subscribed  by  Mr.  Palmer        .  100  00 

Do.  by  Dr.  Thornton  .         *V-V  79  00 

Do.  by  Mr.  Stockton      .        *^.  '••         55  00 

550  00 

2  For  the  enginear's  chest,  sniping  hands,  Provi- 

sions, and  Necessaries  for  a  voiage  to  the  Ra- 
pids of  the  Ohio,  say  .  .  .  .     £50  00 

3  Money  wanting  to  complete  the  voiage        .  250  00 

27* 


318  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

PROPOSALS    OP    JOHN    FITCH    FOR    COMPLEATING    THE    STEAMBOAT 
PERSEVEREANCE. 

Whereas,  it  may  be  reasonably  supposed  that  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  would  give  a  premium,  in  addition  to  an 
exclusive  Right,  for  reduceing  the  Mississippi  to  Easy  Naviga- 
tion, as  they  will  have  an  immediate  benefit  from  it  in  the  sale 
of  their  lands,  or  otherwise,  will  give  an  extention  of  the  Patent 
right  itself,  as  it  will  enhanse  the  value  of  the  teritory  they 
have  to  despose  of,  And  not  altogether  improbable  but  his 
Catholic  majesty  may  take  some  notice  of  it,  and  likewise  that 
the  inhabitants  of  Kentucky  may  give  it  considerable  support, 
either  by  subscription  or  otherwise,  for  the  bringing  a  Boat  from 
Phila"  to  the  Rapids  of  Ohio ; 

It  is  therefore  proposed  and  agreed,  that  every  member  of  the 
Steam  boat  Company  do  relinquish  their  claims  to  the  Boat 
Perseverance,  excepting  only  the  money  which  they  have  ad- 
vanced toward  it,  and  to  let  either  the  Company  or  other  persons 
advance  what  they  please,  and  have  a  share  in  this  Boat  accord- 
ing to  the  money  they  advance,  excepting  only  John  Fitch,  who 
shall  be  entitled  to  one  Tenth,  and  Henry  Voigt  one  twentieth, 
by  their  paying  the  first  cost  of  the  Boat  out  of  the  first  earn- 
ings, or  out  of  the  first  Perquisits  obtained.  And  to  let  any 
man  whatever  advance  what  he  pleases  toward  it,  so  as  not  to 
exceed  £250,  and  to  have  an  equal  share  in  this  boat,  according 
to  the  money  advanced,  with  all  the  advantages  and  immolu- 
ments  which  may  be  given  by  the  Government  or  Governments 
for  the  takeing  a  Boat  from  this  City  to  the  Rapids  of  Ohio, 
•with  their  proportionable  parts  of  all  subscriptions  which  may 
be  obtained  in  consequence  thereof. 

After  which,  the  present  promoters  to  be  entitled  to  build  any 
number  of  Boats  they  shall  see  fit,  in  proportion  to  their  shares 
in  the  Boat  Persevereance,  by  allowing  the  original  shareholders 
one  half  of  the  neat  profits  after  deducting  the  prime  cost  of 
the  Boat  or  Vessel. 

And  should  there  be  an  extention  of  the  Exclusive  Rights 
above  Fourteen  years,  the  present  promoters  to  be  entitled  to  it 
according  to  their  subscriptions  in  the  Boat  Persevereance,  the 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  319 

same  as  if  a  Premium  was  Granted,  excepting  only  John  Fitch 
and  Harry  Voigt,  who  shall  retain  their  shares. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  that  if  the  sum  of  £250  should  not 
be  wanting,  that  the  overplus  shall  be  returned  to  the  sub- 
scribers who  are  not  members  agreably  to  the  proportions  they 
advance.  The  terms  on  which  I  conceive  the  subscribers  to 
advance  their  money  are  as  followeth  : 

We  may  suppose,  could  Congress  know  that  they  gave  their 
Bounty  to  the  meritorious,  that  they  would,  from  the  complex- 
tion  of  Congress  at  the  first  of  this  session,  give  a  Bounty  of 
Fifty  thousand  acres  of  Land,  and  that  the  Inhabitants  on  the 
Western  Waters  would  invoke  strenuous  exertions  by  subscrip- 
tion to  promote  the  same,  payable  on  the  day  of  the  arrival  of 
the  first  Boat.  This  I  should  esteem  much  more  than  what  we 
might  reasonably  expect  from  Government ;  for  such  a  perform- 
ance, which  would  inhans  the  value  of  the  Western  Teritory  so 
much,  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  Congress  would  give  less  than 
50  thousand  acres  of  Land,  as  this  is  not,  like  other  inventions, 
confined  to  individuals,  but  an  immediate  value  received  at  once 
by  Government. 

I  estimate  50  thousand  acres  of  Land,  at  20  cents  per  acre, 
to  be  worth  £3750,  and  the  subscriptions  which  may  be  obtained 
at  an  equal  sum,  which  may  be  reasonably  computed  at  £7500; 
which  would  be  one  thousand  per  cent  on  monies  advanced, 
beside  the  privilege  of  the  Exclusive  Rights  afterwards,  whieh 
one  chance  in  ten  of  obtaining  would  justify  the  laying  out  the 
money  ;  but  should  we  fail  by  Government,  I  think  we  should 
be  amazeingly  unfortunate,  indeed,  if  we  did  not  obtain  sub- 
scriptions at  Kentucky  to  double  the  amount  of  the  money  ex- 
pended ;  which  puts  the  scheme  on  as  sure  Grounds,  as  we  can 
assend  the  Mississippi  by  steam,  and  obtain  a  permit  from  the 
Spainiards,  with  the  risque  of  the  Sea,  Indians,  &c. 

The  risque  of  the  permit,  of  the  Sea,  and  the  Indians,  is  better 
known  by  others  than  myself;  but  the  assending  the  Mississippi 
by  steam  I  will  be  answerable  for. 

All  which  is  humbly  submited  for  the  Consideration  of  Mr. 
Morris  and  Mr.  Pollock,  by  JOHN  FITCH. 


320  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

The  gentlemen  thus  appealed  to  professed  to  be 
favorably  inclined,  but  they  transmitted  a  reply,  March, 
21st,  declining  to  consider  the  proposition  until  a  per- 
mit was  received  from  the  Governor  of  New  Orleans. 

Whilst  the  Company  and  their  Superintendent  were 
awaiting  the  tardy  movements  of  the  Commissioners 
of  Patents,  Aaron  Vail,  U.  S.  Consul  at  L' Orient, 
France,  who  had  inspected  the  operations  of  the  steam- 
boat, and  was  convinced  of  the  importance  and  value 
of  the  invention,  made  proposals  for  an  interest  in  the 
improvement,  with  the  view  of  obtaining  patents  in 
France  and  other  parts  of  Europe.  Upon  considera- 
tion, it  was  agreed  to,  and  the  following  instrument 
executed : 

Articles  of  agreement  made  the  sixteenth  day  of  March,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety 
one,  Between  Aaron  Vail,  of  the  Kingdom  of  France,  but  at 
present  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica, Merchant,  of  the  one  part,  and  John  Fitch,  of  the  said 
City  of  Philadelphia,  of  the  United  States  of  America,  Gent., 
of  the  other  part.  Witness  that  the  said  Aaron  Vail  and  John 
Fitch,  for  themselves  and  their  Heirs,  Executors,  administrators, 
and  assigns,  and  each  of  them  for  himself,  his,  Heirs,  Executors, 
administrators,  and  assigns,  doth  covenant  with  the  other  of 
them,  and  his  Heirs,  Executors,  and  assigns,  reciprocally,  that 
they  and  each  of  them  have,  and  by  these  presents  do  mutually 
ordain,  constitute,  establish,  contract,  agree,  and  conclude  upon 
the  following  articles,  regulations,  and  Terms,  that  is  to  say  : 

Article  the  First.  —  The  said  Aaron  Vail  shall  proceed  to 
France,  as  soon  as  is  consistent  with  his  interest  and  employ- 
ment in  America,  and  without  any  unnecessary  delay.  That  as 
soon  as  he  shall  arrive  in  France,  he  shall  and  will  take  the 
Earliest  opportunity  that  the  nature  of  the  case  will  admit  of, 
to  procure  from  the  Government  of  France  either  the  grant  or 
special  contract,  as  shall  be  most  proper  and  advantageous,  in 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  321 

the  name  of  him,  the  said  John  Fitch,  the  exclusive  privilege 
of  constructing,  vending,  and  employing  all  species  of  Boats 
and  Vessels  impelled  or  urged  through  the  water  by  the  force 
of  steam  ;  or  on  such  other  terms  as  shall  be  most  expedient, 
and  for  the  longest  space  of  time  procurable. 

Article  the  Second.  —  As  soon  as  the  said  Aaron  Vail  shall 
have  procured  the  said  exclusive  privilege,  he  shall  and  will  im- 
mediately transmit,  or  cause  to  be  transmitted,  an  official  or  cer- 
tified copy  of  the  said  grant  or  contract,  to  the  said  John  Fitch, 
in  America,  accompanying  the  said  contract  with  his  intentions, 
or  plan  of  procedure,  to  carry  the  scheme  into  effect  in  France  ; 
and  shall  and  will  provide  for  and  furnish  a  passage  suitable 
for  the  transportation  of  the  steam  boat  Mechanic  from  the 
City  of  New  York,  or  Philadelphia,  to  such  part  of  France  as 
shall  be  by  him,  the  said  Aaron  Vail,  be  deemed  most  suitable 
at  which  to  commence  the  operation  of  carrying  the  Intention 
of  these  articles  into  its  fullest  effect. 

Article  the  Ttiird.—The  said  John  Fitch  shall  and  will,  on  the 
fulfilment  by  the  said  Aaron  Vail  of  the  second  of  these  arti- 
cles, procure  and  send,  agreably  to  the  direction  of  the  said 
Aaron  Vail,  a  mechanic  acquainted  with  the  construction  of  a 
steamboat  or  vessel  in  such  ample  manner  as  to  be  able  to  su- 
perintend the  building  of  a  Boat  or  Vessel  in  France  equally  as 
perfect  as  any  that  shall  have  been  built  or  compleated  by  the 
steamboat  company  in  America  previously  to  his  embarkation 
for  France. 

Article  Fourth.  —  The  said  mechanic  or  superintendent,  as 
mentioned  in  the  second  of  these  articles,  on  his  arrival  in 
France,  shall  be  paid  a  reasonable  compensation  by  the  said 
Aaron  Vail,  for  his  time  and  labour  necessarily  employed  in 
completing  the  first  steamboat  or  vessel;  three  months  after  the 
completion  of  which  said  steamboat  or  vessel,  he  shall  have 
Liberty  to  return  to  America ;  and  if  he  should  not  then  chose 
to  return  to  America,  the  further  employment  of  him  shall  then 
be  at  the  option  of  the  said  Aaron  Vail,  and  the  obligation  re- 
specting him  shall  from  thenceforth  cease,  excepting  that  if  the 
said  Aaron  Vail  shall  not  then  choose  to  furnish  him  with  fur- 
ther employment  in  building  steamboats  or  vessels,  then  and  in 


322  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

such  case,  he,  the  said  Aaron  Vail,  shall  and  will  provide  and 
furnish  him  with  a  suitable  passage  from  the  place  of  his  em- 
ployment in  France  to  the  City  of  New  York  or  Philadelphia, 
in  the  United  States  of  America. 

Article  the  Fifth. — Immediately  after  the  said  Aaron  Vail 
shall  have  procured  an  exclusive  privilege  or  privileges,  as  afore- 
said, from-  the  Kingdom  or  Government  of  France,  for  any  spe- 
cies of  steam  Boats  or  vessels,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  said 
Mechanic  or  superintendant  in  France,  he,  the  said  Aaron  Vail, 
shall,  without  any  delay,  proceed  forthwith  to  build  one  Boat 
or  Vessel,  to  be  impelled  or  urged  through  the  water  by  the 
force  of  steam,  and  suitable  to  navigate  the  waters  in  France 
for  which  he  shall  design  her,  and  agreably  to  the  plan  of  the 
said  mechanic  or  superintendant  that  the  said  John  Fitch  shall 
send  to  France. 

Article  the  Sixth.  —  All  the  monies  or  expenditures  necessary, 
to  complete  the  first  steam  Boat  or  Vessel,  as  also  all  future 
steam  Boats  or  Vessels  that  shall  be  by  him,  the  said  Aaron 
Vail,  built  in  France,  and  also  all  the  expences  necessary  to 
compleat  the  scheme  agreed  upon  by  these  articles,  shall  be  fur- 
nished and  paid  by  him,  the  said  Aaron  Vail ;  but  in  building 
and  completing  the  first  steam  Boat  or  Vessel,  he  shall  not  be 
compelled  to  expend  a  greater  sum  than  two  thousand  five  hun- 
dred Spanish  silver  milled  Dollars.  And  all  the  neat  profits  and 
emoluments  arising  from  all  and  every  Boat  or  boats,  vessel  or  ves- 
sels, impelled  by  the  force  of  steam,  which  he,  the  said  Aaron  Vail, 
shall  build,  as  well  as  all  and  every  other,  the  profits  or  emolu- 
ments arising  from  the  said  scheme  in  France  shall  be  divided 
between  the  said  Aaron  Vail  and  the  said  John  Fitch,  in  manner 
following:  that  is  to  say,  one  equal  moiety  or  half  part  thereof 
shall  be  the  property  of  the  said  Aaron  Vail,  and  the  other  full 
equal  moiety  or  one  half  part  thereof  shall  be  the  property  of 
the  said  John  Fitch  ;  and  which  said  one  full  equal  moiety  or 
one  half  part  thereof  shall  be  paid  and  delivered  to  the  said 
John  Fitch,  or  his  order  or  orders,  agent  or  agents,  immediately 
after  each  dividend  of  profits  shall  be  made.  All  dividends  of 
profits  or  emoluments,  if  any  there  be,  shall  be  made  at  L'Orient, 
in  France,  on  the  first  Monday  of  January,  April,  July,  and 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  323 

October,  in  every  year  during  the  existance  of  any  grant  or 
grants,  privilege  or  privileges,  obtained  by  the  said  Aaron  Vail, 
conformably  to  these  articles.  And  all  sales  of  any  steam  Boat 
or  steam  Boats,  vessel  or  vessels,  and  all  other  business  of  these 
articles,  shall  be  made  and  transacted  to  the  greatest  possible 
advantage  of  the  concern  generally,  and  a  true  and  exact  ac- 
count shall  be  kept  by  the  said  Aaron  Vail  of  all  hia  transac- 
tions of  building,  vending,  or  using  any  steam  Boat  or  Boats, 
vessel  or  vessels,  and  all  other  business  that  does  or  may  con- 
cern the  said  John  Fitch  ;  all  which  accounts  of  said  transac- 
tions shall  be  furnished  by  the  said  Aaron  Vail,  for  the  inspec- 
tion of  the  agent  or  agents  of  the  said  John  Fitch,  or  of  hia 
assigns,  on  his  or  their  requiring  the  same,  in  writing,  at  least 
in  one  month  previously  to  the  time  prefixed  in  such  writing 
for  such  inspection  ;  provided,  that  such  inspection  shall  not  be 
made  oftener  than  once  in  every  year. 

Article  the  Seventh. — These  articles  shall  extend,  and  be  con- 
strued to  extend  to,  and  be  in  force,  in  all  grants  and  privileges 
which  may  be  obtained  by  the  said  Aaron  Vail,  his  agent  or 
agents,  in  the  States  of  Holland,  the  Empire  of  Germany,  or 
Russia,  or  the  Kingdom  of  Prussia,  Denmark,  or  Sweden,  the 
Republic  of  Geneva,  or  the  Swiss  Cantons,  or  all  of  these  places, 
in  the  same  manner,  and  with  the  same  force  and  operation,  as 
they  are  intended  to,  or  would  operate,  in  France.  Provided, 
these  grants  or  privileges  are  actually  applied  for  by  the  said 
Aaron  Vail  within  the  term  of  Twelve  months  from  and  after 
the  completion  of  the  said  first  steam  Boat  or  vessel  in  France ; 
and  in  those  places,  and  during  the  time  in  this  article  prefixed, 
the  said  John  Fitch  shall  not  attempt  to  procure  any  exclusive 
right  or  privilege,  except  the  said  Aaron  Vail  shall  neglect  the 
necessary  means  and  exertions  of  and  for  procuring  the  same. 
And  for  the  true  and  faithful  performance  of,  all  and  singular, 
the  articles,  contracts,  and  agreements  aforesaid,  the  said  par- 
ties do  severally  bind  themselves,  each  unto  the  other  of  them, 
his  Heirs,  Executors,  administrators,  and  assigns,  in  the  penal 
sum  of  Ten  thousand  Dollars,  silver  money,  firmly  by  these 
presents. 


324  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

In  witness  whereof,  the  said  parties  to  these  presents  have 
interchangeably  set  their  hands  and  seals  hereunto,  dated  the 
day  and  year  first  above  written. 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  the  Aaron  Vail,     [seal,] 

presence  of  John  Fitch,     [seal.] 

John  Lohra, 
William  Smith, 
George  Merier. 

We,  the  subscribers,  being  a  majority  of  the  Steam  Boat 
company  in  America,  do  consent  that  the  above  named  John 
Fitch  do  for  himself  enter  into  the  above  articles  of  agreement 
with  Aaron  Vail,  of  the  Kingdom  of  France  ;  and  that  we  will 
not  do  or  commit  any  act  or  acts  to  counteract  or  invalidate  the 
intention  or  meaning  of  the  above  articles  of  agreement. 


I  do  hereby  assign  all  my  right  and  title  to  these  articles  to 
the  above  signed  Benjamin  Say,  Edwd.  Brooks,  Jr.,  and  Richard 
Stockton,1  Directors  for  the  benefit  of  the  steamboat  Company, 
in  proportion  to  the  moneys  they  shall  have  advanced  for  the 
perfecting  of  the  scheme  in  America  at  the  time  of  the  comple- 
tion of  the  first  steamboat  in  France,  excepting  the  shares  of 
Henry  Voight  and  myself.  JOHN  FITCH. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  1791,  the  day  appointed  for 
hearing  the  petitioners  for  steam-boat  patents,  Fitch 
attended  at  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State.  The 
Commissioners  were,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  as 
unwilling  to  discharge  their  duties  as  they  had  been 
previously.  The  next  day  Fitch  filed  reasons  against 
the  claims  of  Stevens ;  principally  founded  upon  the 

1  These  gentlemen  did  not  sign  the  license  given  above.  Pro- 
bably it  was  not  considered  material.  They  undoubtedly  as- 
sented to  the  arrangement. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  325 

fact  that  the  latter  had  recommended  Fitch's  invention 
to  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  as  worthy  of  the 
protection  of  law,  and  that  a  statute  was  afterwards 
passed,  March  18th,  1786.  It  was  therefore  argued 
that  Mr.  Stevens  could  not  have  invented  a  steam-boat 
until  after  that  time.  Barnes,  who  was  present  on 
behalf  of  Rumsey,  suggested  that  the  merits  of  the 
rival  claims  of  the  latter,  and  of  Fitch,  should  be  left 
to  the  decision  of  referees.  This  was  assented  to. 
Fitch  named,  as  gentlemen  from  whom  the  proper 
number  were  to  be  selected,  Dr.  John  Ewing,  Robert 
Patterson,  Andrew  Ellicott,  Peter  Thompson,  David 
Rittenhouse,  and  John  Wood. 

Barnes  proposed  Thomas  McKean,  William  Lewis, 
George  Clymer,  William  Barton,  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush, 
and  John  Nancarrow. 

A  difficulty  arose  about  the  interest  which  these 
gentlemen  had  in  the  inventions  of  the  respective 
claimants.  Although  Ewing,  Patterson,  Ellicott,  and 
Rittenhouse  had  no  property  in  the  steam-boat,  they 
were  good  friends  of  Fitch.  He  thought,  however, 
that  they  were  very  proper  persons,  but  he  objected 
very  much  to  almost  all  named  by  Barnes.  Thomas 
McKean  had,  as  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  given 
an  opinion  that  the  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  could 
repeal  Fitch's  law.  His  two  sons  were  also  interested 
in  Rumsey's  scheme.  William  Lewis,  while  in  the  As- 
sembly, had  taken  part  against  Fitch,  "  as  if  he  was 
an  attorney  for  Rumsey."  Barton  was  alleged  to  be 
a  known  partner  of  Rumsey — he  belonged  to  the  Rum- 
seian  Society.  Clymer  was  believed  also  to  have  a 
share  in  that  scheme ;  he  was  at  all  events  active, 
28 


326  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

when  in  the  Legislature,  in  opposition  to  Fitch.  Rush 
was  "  one  of  Rumsey's  principal  patrons  in  Great  Bri- 
tain." John  Nancarrow  was  thought  to  be  the  only 
person  disinterested.  Dr.  Smith  was  proposed  in 
place  of  Barton ;  Dr.  Barton,  a  brother  of  the  latter, 
was  suggested  in  place  of  one  of  the  others ;  and  Jo- 
seph McKean,  a  shareholder  in  Rumsey's  boat,  and 
William  Warn,  were  named.  Fitch  suggested  William 
Rawle,  Samuel  Garrigues,  and  Edward  Pennington. 
The  matter  was  then  postponed ;  and  finally,  Barnes 
decided  not  to  submit  to  the  arbitration. 

Another  petition  to  the  Commissioners  was  prepared 
by  our  persevering  laborer.  He  showed  it,  on  the  12th 
of  April,  to  General  Henry  Knox,  Secretary  of  War, 
who  received  him  civilly.  Governor  Randolph  read  it, 
but  made  no  satisfactory  reply.  Jefferson  treated 
Fitch  coolly,  and  refused  to  receive  the  petition  be- 
cause his  clerk  was  absent.  He  at  first  declined  to 
look  at  the  papers,  and  said  "  it  was  too  much  like 
tampering  with  judges  out  of  doorsi" 

Fitch  replied,  "  I  have  an  undoubted  right  to  peti- 
tion." 

Jefferson,  after  some  hesitation,  read  it,  and  said, 
"I  can  say  nothing  until  after  the  Board  meets,"  and 
refused  to  receive  the  paper,  which  was  not  filed  until 
Mr.  Remsen,  his  clerk,  returned,  a  day  or  two  after- 
ward. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  the  parties  met  according  to 
adjournment ;  but  it  being  Good  Friday,  Governor 
Randolph  went  to  church.  A  new  clause  was  added 
to  Fitch's  petition,  in  which  he  claimed  an  exclusive 
right  for  forcing  out  water  abaft  of  a  steam-boat ;  also 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  327 

forcing  out  air,  and  air  and  water  combined ;  likewise 
for  navigating  with  cranks  and  paddles. 

The  next  day  was  that  of  the  final  meeting,  and  the 
parties  were  all  present  before  the  Commissioners. 
Governor  Randolph  said  that  they  would  be  compelled 
to  give  the  oldest  patent  to  the  first  applicant.  As 
Rumsey  had  applied  to  them  before  Fitch,  the  latter 
believed  this  declaration  to  be  made  with  an  intention 
to  do  him  injustice.  With  great  readiness,  he  imme- 
diately urged  that  his  application  had  been  the  first, 
having  been  made  to  Congress  in  August,  1785.  Jef- 
ferson then  said  they  could  make  no  distinction  in  the 
date  of  the  patents,  but  would  issue  all  with  equal 
date ;  leaving  to  the  parties  the  pleasant  prospect  of 
long  and  expensive  litigation.  Fitch  remonstrated 
against  this  injustice,  but  without  avail ;  and  the  letters 
patent  were  ordered  to  be  made  out.  Until  they  were 
signed,  a  certificate  in  the  following  form  was  given : 

Extract  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Commissioners  for  the 
Promotion  of  useful  Arts. 

Philadelphia,  April  23,  1791. 

The  Board  proceeded  to  the  consideration  of  the  claim1  of 
John  Fitch,  of  Philadelphia,  for  a  patent  for  the  following  ap- 
plications of  steam,  alledged  by  him  to  have  been  invented, 
viz.  : 

For  applying  the  force  of  steam  to  trunk  or  trunks,  for  draw- 
ing water  in  at  the  Bow  of  a  Boat  or  vessel,  and  forcing  the 
same  out  at  the  stern,  in  order  to  propel  a  boat  or  vessel  through 
the  water.  For  forcing  a  column  of  air  through  a  trunk  or 
trunks,  filled  with  water  by  the  force  of  steam.  For  forcing  a 
column  of  air  thro  a  trunk  or  trunks,  out  at  the  stern,  with  the 
bow  valves  closed,  by  the  force  of  steam  ;  and  for  applying  the 
force  of  steam  to  Cranks  and  Paddles  for  propelling  a  boat  or 
vessel  through  the  water. 


328  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

Whereupon,  ordered,  that  letters  Patent  be  granted  to  the 
said  John  Fitch,  for  his  aforesaid  inventions,  for  the  term  of 
Fourteen  years,  agreably  to  the  act  entitled  "  an  act  to  promote 
the  progress  of  useful  arts."  HENRY  REHSEN,  JR., 

Clerk. 

The  regular  patents  were  not  issued  to  Fitch  and 
the  others  until  August  26th,  1791.  That  granted  to 
Fitch  is  in  the  specification,  word  for  word,  like  the 
above.  The  formal  parts  differ  but  little  from  the 
foregoing ;  the  patent  is  signed  by  "Washington,  and 
by  the  Commissioners,  Jefferson,  Knox,  and  Ran- 
dolph.1 

1  Duer's  second  letter  to  Golden,  Appendix. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  329 


CHAPTER    XX. 

WORK    ON    THE    STEAM-BOAT     PERSEVERANCE  —  ABAN- 
DONMENT  OF   THE   SCHEME. 

DISAPPOINTED  with  the  result  of  the  application  to 
the  Commissioners  of  Patents,  it  was  resolved  to  call 
a  meeting  of  the  Steam-boat  Company,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  consultation.  The  members  did  not  assemble 
at  the  time  designated.  Disgusted  and  despairing, 
Fitch  wrote  the  next  day  to  Dr.  Thornton,  who  was  in 
the  West  Indies.  In  that  communication  he  set  forth 
the  embarrassments  of  the  Company,  and  his  own  dis- 
tress, and  declared  that  he  intended  to  leave  the  city. 
Going  to  the  mother-in-law  of  the  Doctor,  Mrs.  Brad- 
shaw,  he  was  informed  that  his  absent  friend  had  sent 
an  order  that  another  .£100  should  be  paid  to  the 
Steam-boat  Company  on  his  account.  A  few  hours 
afterward,  he  met  Mr.  Stockton,  who  informed  him 
that  a  permit  had  just  been  received  from  the  Govern- 
or of  Louisiana,  that  the  steam-boat  might  come 
there,  with  the  persons  necessary  to  navigate  her,  and 
with  their  household  furniture.  Another  meeting  was 
called  for  the  30th  of  April.  At  that  time  it  was  de- 
termined to  take  the  engine  out  of  the  old  boat,  and 
that  the  hull  and  materials  should  be  sold.  It  was 
also  decided  that  the  Perseverance  should  be  finished. 
This  display  of  fitful  energy  was  succeeded  by  the 
usual  indifference ;  during  all  which  time  the  unfortu- 
28* 


330  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

nate  man  was  compelled  to  languish  and  wait.  He 
busied  himself  about  the  proper  method  of  fixing  the 
arms  of  the  oars,  and  drew  a  plan  by  which,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  paddles,  there  might  be  combined  the  me- 
thod of  pumping  in  water  at  the  bow  and  ejecting  it 
at  the  stern ;  and  also  of  passing  out  air  through  a 
trunk  against  the  water.  A  boat  propelled  by  such  a 
union  of  forces  would,  it  was  thought,  be  unusually 
swift.  The  work  now  being  of  a  different  character 
from  what  had  been  yet  attempted,  he  suggested  Peter 
Lukins,  of  Horsham,  Bucks  County,  as  blacksmith ; 
declaring  that,  if  he  could  be  procured  at  a  dollar  a 
day,  he  would  be  the  cheapest  mechanic  who  could  be 
obtained.  The  Directors  put  an  end  to  this  proposi- 
tion in  a  summary  manner,  by  a  declaration  that  Fitch 
was  perfectly  competent  to  do  the  work  without  other 
aid.  Disappointed  by  frequent  failures,  he  had  now 
become  querulous ;  and  he  annoyed  the  members  of 
the  Company  by  frequent  complaints.  He  had  been 
promised  twenty  shillings  a  week  while  attending  to 
the  business  of  procuring  the  United  States  patent, 
the  greater  part  of  which  wages  was  yet  due  him.  He 
was  living  under  great  privation,  and  in  a  letter  dated 
the  14th  of  May,  gives  the  following  inventory  of  his 
wardrobe : 

"Two  pair  of  shoes,  one  about  15  months  old,  the  other  about 
12,  wore  alternately ;  one  Do.  new,  not  yet  worn.  Four  pr 
Coursyarn  stockings;  twopr  three yrs  old,  but  footed  fall  before 
last;  two  of  which,  new  last  fall.  A  jacket  and  breeches, 
bought  last  fall,  but  considerably  Riped,  and  the  Breeches  begins 
to  break  in  the  Crotch.  Five  or  six  old  shirts  ;  the  two  newest 
bought  last  fall.  Four  stocks,  in  constant  wear  about  three 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  331 

* 

years,  but  have  been  mended,  and  will  probably  last  me  this 
summer.  One  Coat.  I  cannot  tell  the  exact  age  and  constant 
wear  of  it,  but  it  is  broke  in  every  part ;  especially  the  lining, 
elbows,  about  the  wrists,  and  under  the  armes.  An  old  second 
handed  hat,  now  worn  by  me  about  two  years.  A  pr  of  shoe, 
knee,  and  stock  buckles,  all  of  silver,  but  pretty  good,  altho  very 
antient,  and  out  of  fasion.  One  great  Coat,  three  years  old. 
One  pr  of  Cours  Indian  legings,  not  yet  worn,  with  garters  and 
all  compleat.  One  nightcap,  2|  years  old,  but  very  good." 

He  was  very  much  annoyed  by  not  knowing  pre- 
cisely what  the  articles  with  Vail  required.  He  com- 
plained that  he  was  bound  in  ten  thousand  dollars 
penalty,  and  that  he  did  not  know  what  he  was  com- 
pelled to  do  by  the  agreement.  He  protested  against 
going  on  with  the  work  upon  the  Perseverance  until 
money  enough  to  finish  it  was  procured.  He  was 
lukewarm  even  after  it  had  been  agreed  to  take  the 
£100  subscribed  by  Mr.  Palmer.  He  also  declared 
that  he  must  have  at  least  thirty  shillings  a  week 
wages,  punctually.  The  Directors  at  length  yielded 
to  his  solicitations.  They  gave  him  <£4  11s.  for  cloth- 
ing, and  an  order  for  ,£15;  which  closed  the  account 
up  to  the  14th  of  May. 

He  now  set  to  work  with  diligence,  but  was  subject 
to  delays.  The  removal  of  Congress  from  New  York 
to  Philadelphia  had  caused  brisk  times.  Mechanics 
had  plenty  of  employment  at  increased  wages,  and  it 
was  difficult  to  obtain  them  when  required  upon  the 
boat.  They  continued  their  labors  during  the  summer, 
and  on  the  7th  of  September  were  ready  to  make 
steam  and  set  the  works  in  motion.  One  of  the  Di- 
rectors, unknown  to  Fitch,  had  ordered  a  wooden  case 
to  the  boiler,  which  was  too  short.  They  tried  to 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

piece  it  with  wood,  but  could  not  make  it  tight ;  and 
when  they  loaded  the  valve  in  order  to  make  a  vacuum, 
the  water  gushed  out  in  streams.  They  could  not 
raise  steam  enough  to  move  the  works  in  the  first 
place,  and  the  engine  being  large,  they  could  not  move 
the  great  piston  by  hand,  to  make  a  vacuum,  and  thus 
assist  the  subsequent  motion.  The  Directors,  who  saw 
the  failure,  said  the  air-pump  was  too  small,  and  they 
ordered  it  to  be  taken  out  without  further  trial.  Fitch 
thought  the  proper  method  would  have  been  to  make 
the  boiler-case  tight,  and  then,  by  loading  the  valve, 
make  a  vacuum,  and  thus  ascertain  if  the  pump  would 
not  answer. 

This  counsel  was  disregarded  ;  and  not  only  the  air- 
pump,  but  the  condenser  was  taken  out,  and  others 
were  ordered  to  be  put  in,  although  it  was  doubtful 
whether  such  change  could  be  made  so  as  to  render 
the  new  portions  applicable  to  the  other  parts  of  the 
engine.  This  delay  and  fresh  expense  so  exhausted 
the  funds  that  there  was  not  money  enough  to  pay  for 
so  slight  a  work  as  an  alteration  to  one  of  the  cocks. 
The  wages  of  Fitch  were  again  in  arrear.  He  "  had 
not  a  penny  to  buy  soft-soap." 

To  add  to  his  troubles,  he  had  a  quarrel  with  Voight, 
with  whom  he  had  entered  into  a  partnership  in  April, 
with  the  intention  of  manufacturing  steam-engines. 
Voight  claimed  to  be  the  owner  of  the  cattle-boat ;  or 
rather  to  the  application  of  the  rowing  machinery  of 
the  steam-boat  to  boats  moved  by  the  power  of  cattle. 
This  was  certainly  ungenerous,  inasmuch  as  in  the 
articles  of  1787,  which  Voight  had  signed,  it  was  ex- 
pressly mentioned  that  the  cattle-boat  had  been  in- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  333 

vented  by  Fitch,  and  all  rights  to  that  improvement 
were  ceded  to  the  Company.1  The  winter  had  now 
come  on,  and  there  was  nothing  more  to  be  done  with 
the  steam-boat.  Fitch  therefore  employed  himself  in 
correspondence  with  Voight,  and  in  procuring  certifi- 
cates that 'he  was  the  real  discoverer  of  the  mode  of 
propelling  the  cattle-boat.  In  January,  1792,  this 
dispute  was  terminated  by  the  better  nature  of  Voight, 
and  he  gave  a  certificate,  which  was  witnessed  by  J. 
Buck  and  C.  Pryor,  that  Fitch  was  the  original  inventor 
of  the  method  of  rowing  by  cranks  and  paddles. 

During  the  year  Fitch  made  some  effort  to  retrieve 
his  interests  in  other  quarters.  After  he  had  became 
infatuated  with  the  steam-boat,  the  care  of  the  inte- 
rests of  the  Land  Company  in  Ohio  was  given  to  Jona- 
than Longstreth,  who  went  to  the  Western  country  in 
1787.  He  became  the  agent  of  Fitch,  also  taking  out 
some  of  his  maps,  which  were  delivered  to  Colonel 
Penticost,  of  Chortee,  Dr.  Johnson,  who  lived  near 
Mingo,  Colonel  Cook,  and  others.  He  also  collected 
some  debts  which  were  due  his  principal ;  among  others, 
from  Burnet,  his  fellow-prisoner,  who  took  leave  of 
him  in  Bucks  County  after  his  release  from  captivity. 
Several  of  the  surveying  instruments  of  Fitch  had 
been  left  in  Kentucky,  and  these  were  procured  and 
used  by  Longstreth.  There  were  unsettled  accounts 
between  them,  and  finally,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1792, 
they  agreed  to  submit  their  differences  to  arbitration, 
and  a  bond,  which  is  still  extant,  was  executed  by 

1  Nevertheless,  Henry  Yoight  took  out  a  patent  "  for  a  method 
of  propelling  boats  by  animal  power,"  August  10,  1791. 


334  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Fitch,  that  he  should  stand  by  the  award  of  referees. 
The  balance  in  his  favor  was  ascertained  to  be  small. 
It  was  paid  by  Longstreth,  and  it  went  a  short  way 
towards  relieving  the  distresses  of  the  recipient. 

In  the  spring,  as  soon  as  the  weather  was  mild 
enough,  attempts  were  again  made  to  finish  the  Perse- 
verance ;  but  they  met  with  little  encouragement  from 
the  stockholders.  What  work  was  performed  "  was 
done  by  halves,"  and  the  still  earnest  projector  him- 
self borrowed  the  money  to  do  it.  A  payment  of  forty 
dollars,  made  to  him  by  Mr.  Stockton,  was  some  relief, 
but  he  declared  that  he  wanted  double  the  sum. 

In  despair,  he  applied  to  Mr.  Rittenhouse,  in  a 
letter,  a  copy  of  which  is  yet. preserved.  This  epistle 
is  sadly  prophetic  in  relation  to  the  triumphs  of  steam 
navigation.  It  is  curious,  on  account  of  the  strange 
method  suggested  to  fight  the  Barbary  corsairs  with 
a  steam  fire-engine ;  it  is  melancholy,  as  a  proof  how 
much  the  heart  of  the  man  was  wrapped  up  in  his 
invention,  and  what  sacrifices  he  was  willing  to  make 
to  perfect  it.  It  was  in  the  following  words  : 

PHILAD.,  29  June,  1792. 
Worthy  and  much  esteemed  sir : 

I  conceive  that  navigation  by  steam  will  be  the  second 
mode  of  Navigation,  but  can  never  take  the  prefference  of  a  fair 
•wind,  as  air  is  much  cheaper  than  steam.  It  may,  also,  be 
boldly  asserted  that  it  would  be  much  easier  to  carry  a  first  rate 
man  of  war  by  steam,  at  an  equal  Rate,  than  a  small  boat ;  for 
iu  such  a  case  we  should  not  be  so  cramped  for  room,  nor  should 
we  so  sensibly  feal  a  few  pounds  weight  of  Machinery. 

This,  sir,  whether  I  bring  it  to  perfection  or  not,  will  be  the 
mode  of  crossing  the  Atlantick  in  time,  for  Packets  and  armed 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  335 

vessels,  as  it  could  be  placed  in  a  ship  without  interfering  with 
a  rope  or  sail,  except  the  mizzen,  which  must  be  made  some- 
what smaller.1 

1  The  first  steamship  that  ever   crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean 
was   the   Savannah,  an  American  vessel.     The  Savannah  waa 
built   at  New  York,  and   measured  380  tons.     She  was   ship- 
riggsd,  and   had  a  horizontal  engine.     It  was  the  hope  of  her 
owners  that  they  could  sell  this  ship  to  the  Emperor  of  Russia. 
Under  the  command  of  Captain  Moses  Rogers,  the  Savannah 
left  the  port  of  that  name  on  the  26th  of  May,  1819,  for  Liver- 
pool.    The   time   occupied  in  the  voyage  has  been  variously 
stated  as  eighteen,  twenty-two,  and  twenty-five  days.     "Mar- 
wade's  Commercial  Report,"  a  paper  then  published  in  Liverpool, 
and  the  best  authority,  says  that  the  time  occupied  was  twenty- 
five  days ;  during  eighteen  of  which  the  Savannah  was  under 
steam.     On  the  other  hand,  it  has  been  said  that  the  vessel  only 
employed  steam,  during  a  trip  of  eighteen  days,  for  seven  days  ; 
and  that  she  had  not  the  capacity  to  carry  fuel  [pine  wood]  suf- 
ficient for  use  during  eighteen  days'  steaming.     It  is  generally 
conceded  that  steam  was  used  during  a  part  of  the  voyage.   One 
who  professes  to  have  been  a  passenger,  says  that  the  voyage 
was  commenced  by  steam,  but  fuel  running  short,  the  wheels 
were  taken  off,  so  as  not  to  impede  sailing,  and  replaced  when 
near  the  British  coast,  when  steam  was  again  made,   and  the 
Savannah  went  into  Liverpool  by  the  aid  of  that  power  alone. 
Marwade's  Commercial  Report  says,  "  this  is  the  first  ship  of 
this  construction   that  has   undertaken  to  cross   the   Atlantic. 
*         *         *         Her  approach  to  port  without  a  single  sail  dis- 
played the  power  and  advantage  of  the  application  of  steam  to 
vessels  of  the  largest  size."     During  her  voyage  up  St.  George's 
Channel,  the  commander  of  a  British  fleet  stationed  there  waa 
utterly  at  a  loss  to  account  for  her  remarkable  appearance,  en- 
veloped as  she  was  in  heavy  clouds  of  smoke,  and  moving  with- 
out the  aid  of  canvas.     He  naturally  conjectured  that  she  must 
be  on  fire,  and  in  distress,  and  sent  two  cutters  to  her  relief;  but 
finding  that  assistance  was  not  wanted,  he  brought  her  to  with 
a.  shot,  and  satisfied  himself  by  examination  that  all  was  right. 
The  Savannah  left  Liverpool  for  St.  Petersburg  July  23d,  1819, 


336  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

I  mean  to  make  use  of  wind  when  we  have  it,  and  in  Calms 
to  persue  the  voiag  at  the  rate  of  seven  or  Eight  miles  per  hour  ; 
nay,  I  am  lead  to  believe  it  will  be  a  means  of  civilizing  the 
•whole  coast  of  Barbary ;  for  we  can  make  our  Oars  to  work 
when  the  weather  is  so  rough  that  others  cannot,  and  always 
come  up  with  them,  and  take  them,  or  run  from  them,  and  es- 
cape ;  which  I  presume  the  latter  would  never  be  the  case  ;  for 
by  uniting  that  force  with  a  fire  engine,  which  I  presume  it 
could  be  done  in  20  seconds,  and  that  a  six  foot  cylinder  would 
throw  a  column  of  Water  from  the  Round  top  40  or  50  yards 
sufficient  to  take  a  man  from  his  feet.  Not  only  that,  but  it 
would  wet  their  artnes  and  ammunitions,  so  as  to  silence  all  the 
musketry  in  a  very  few  minutes,  and  all  the  big  guns  that  it 
could  reach,  especially  those  on  deck,  that  I  presume  that  a  20 
gun  ship  never  need  run  from  one  of  a  hundred. 

But,  sir,  I  can  blame  no  man  for  not  having  the  same  exalted 
Ideas  of  it  as  myself;  but  only  permit  it  to  be  sufficient  to  Na- 
vigate the  Mississippi ;  the  acquisition  is  great,  and  I  think  too 
great  to  be  given  over  dureing  my  Patent  Right. 

My  Friends  have  become  disjointed,  and  proficient  [inefficient], 
when  the  scheme  is  on  the  crisis  of  compleation,  and  can  raise 
no  more  money.  I  am  both  in  debt  and  in  Rags ;  but  could  I 
compleat  it  by  selling  all  my  property  in  Kentucky  at  a  gl  loss,  I 
•would  gladly  do  it.  I  think  with  £50  I  could  cloathe  myself, 

moored  off  Cronstadt,  25th  of  September,  left  there  the  10th  of 
October,  (the  Emperor  of  Russia  declining  to  purchase,)  stopped 
at  Copenhagen,  and  at  Arundel,  in  Norway,  and  finally  returned 
to  the  United  States,  arriving  at  Savannah  November  30th.  The 
steam-machinery  was  afterward  taken  out  of  the  Savannah,  and 
she  plied  regularly  as  a  sailing-packet  between  Savannah  and 
New  York  for  several  years,  and  was  finally  wrecked  on  Long 
Island. 

The  first  English  steamer  which  crossed  the  Atlantic  was  the 
Sirius ;  which  left  Cork,  in  Ireland,  and  arrived  at  New  York 
April  23,  1838,  after  a  voyage  of  eighteen  days.  Four  hours 
afterward,  the  British  steam-ship  Great  Western,  from  Bristol, 
England,  also  entered  the  harbor  of  New  York,  after  a  voyage 
of  fifteen  days. 


_ 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  337 

pay  my  debts,  and  compleat  the  greatest  undertakcing,  worthy 
the  notice  of  Mr.  Rittenhouse,  and  wish  his  name  recorded,  that 
he  was  the  man,  and  the  honor  conferred  on  him. 

Do  not  think,  sir,  that  I  wish  you  to  advance  money  for  my 
sustenance,  or  on  my  projects  ;  but  on  the  enclosed  propositions  ; 
and  which  cannot  fail  to  give  you  one  hundred  pr  Ct ;  and  yet 
I  shall  feal  the  obligation  so  great,  that  your  name  shall  stand 
foremost  in  compleating  this  great  undertakeing,  if  successful. 

I  beg,  sir,  to  refer  you  to  the  enclosed  propositions ;  and  whe- 
ther you  accept  it  or  not,  that  I  may  be  esteemed  by  you,  what 
I  really  am,  viz. : 

Your  most  Devoted  Friend 

and  Humble  Servant, 

David  Rittenhouse,  Esq.  JOHN  FITCH. 

The  accompanying  proposals  stated  that  the  writer 
was  still  possessed  of  lands  in  Kentucky,  which  were 
growing  valuable.  If  X50  were  advanced  to  him, 
he  would  go  there  and  sell  them,  and  return  .£100  for 
the  loan.  The  money  thus  raised  was  to  be  used  in 
completing  the  steam-boat. 

In  the  succeeding  week  he  wrote  a  letter  of  similar 
tenor  to  Mr.  Wells.  Mr.  Rittenhouse  did  not  accede 
to  the  proposition.  Mr.  Wells  also  declined,  but  gave 
Fitch  ten  dollars  to  relieve  his  necessities.  The  same 
proposals  were  also  made  to  the  Steam-boat  Company, 
with  the  additional  offer,  that  after  receiving  ,£100  for 
X50,  they  would  be  allowed  one-half  of  the  remainder. 

With  these  efforts  all  further  endeavor  seems  to 
have  ceased.  The  boat  was  abandoned,  and  Fitch 
loitered  about  Philadelphia  for  some  months,  an  abject, 
despised,  insulted,  heart-broken  man. 

In  the  seventh  volume  of  Hazard's  Register,  of 
Pennsylvania,  page  91,  Thomas  P.  Cope  (signature 
"  Epoc  ")  has  given  his  recollections  of  this  unfortu- 
29 


338  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

nate  genius,  as  he  appeared  to  him  about  this  period. 
Mr.  Cope,  after  speaking  of  Fulton,  says, 

"Whilst  Robert  Fulton  was  thus  engaged  in  London,  John 
Fitch,  clock  maker,  was  contriving  schemes  in  Philadelphia  for 
the  propulsion  of  his  boats  by 'steam.  He  conducted  his  mys- 
terious operations  at  a  projection  on  the  shores  of  the  Delaware, 
at  Kensington,  which  among  the  wise  and  prudent  of  the  neigh- 
borhood, the  scorners  of  magicians  and  their  dark  works,  soon 
acquired  the  ominous  and  fearful  title  of  Conjurer's  Point.1  I 
often  witnessed  the  performance  of  the  boat  in  1788,  '89,  and 
'90.  It  was  propelled  by  paddles  in  the  stern,  and  constantly 
getting  out  of  order.  I  saw  it  when  it  was  returning  from  a 
trip  to  Burlington,  from  whence  it  was  said  to  have  arrived  in 
little  more  than  two  hours.  When  coming  to  off  Kensington, 
some  part  of  the  machinery  broke,  and  I  never  saw  it  in  motion 
afterwards.  I  believe  it  was  his  last  effort.  He  had,  up  to  that 
period,  been  patronized  by  a  few  stout  hearted  individuals,  who 
had  subscribed  a  small  capital,  in  shares,  I  think,  of  £6  Penn- 
sylvania currency  ;  but  this  last  disaster  so  staggered  their  faith 
and  unstrung  their  nerves,  that  they  never  again  had  the  hardi- 
hood to  make  other  contributions.  Indeed,  they  already  ren- 
dered themselves  the  subjects  of  ridicule  and  derision,  for  their 
temerity  and  presumption  in  giving  countenance  to  this  wild 
projector  and  visionary  madman.  The  company  thereupon  gave 
up  the  ghost,  the  boat  went  to  pieces,  and  Fitch  became  bank- 
rupt and  broken-hearted.  Often  have  I  seen  him  stalking  about 
like  a  troubled  spectre,  with  down  cast  eye  and  lowering  counte- 
nance, his  coarse,  soiled  linen,  peeping  through  the  elbows  of  a 
tattered  garment.  During  the  days  of  his  aspiring  hopes,  two 
mechanics  were  of  sufficient  daring  to  work  for  him.  Aye,  and 
they  suffered  in  purse  for  their  confidence  and  folly.2  These 

1  It  is  supposed  that  the  place  was  at  Point  Pleasant ;  some- 
where near  the  present  Cherry,  or  Vienna  street,   and  below 
Gunner's  Run. 

2  This  supposition  of  Mr.  Cope  is  a  natural  one,  but  it  is  not 
likely  that  much,  if  anything,  was  lost  on  account  of  the  steam- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  339 

•were  Peter  Brown,  shipsmith,  and  John  Wilson,  Boat  builder. 
They  were  worthy,  benevolent  men,  well  known  to  the  writer, 
and  much  esteemed  in  the  City.  Toward  Fitch,  in  particular, 
they  ever  extended  the  kindest  sympathy.  While  he  lived, 
therefore,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  calling  almost  daily  at  their 
workshops,  to  while  away  the  time,  to  talk  over  his  misfortunes, 
and  to  rail  at  the  ingratitude  and  cold  neglect  of  an  unfeeling, 
spiritless  world.  From  Wilson  I  derived  the  following  anec- 
dote:  Fitch  called  to  see  him  as  usual  —  Brown  happened  to  bo 
present.  Fitch  mounted  his  hobby,  and  became  unusually  elo- 
quent in  the  praise  of  steam,  and  of  the  benefits  which  mankind 
were  destined  to  derive  from  its  use  in  propelling  boats.  They 
listened,  of  course,  without  faith,  but  not  without  interest,  to 
this  animated  appeal ;  but  it  failed  to  rouse  them  to  give  any 
future  support  to  schemes  by  which  they  had  already  suffered. 
After  indulging  himself  for  some  time  in  this  never  failing  topic 
of  deep  excitement,  he  concluded  with  these  memorable  words : 
'  Well,  gentlemen,  although  I  shall  not  live  to  see  the  time,  you 
•will,  when  steamboats  will  be  preferred  to  all  other  means  of 
conveyance,  and  especially  for  passengers ;  and  they  will  be 
particularly  useful  in  the  navigation  of  the  River  Mississippi.' 
He  then  retired  ;  on  which  Brown,  turning  to  Wilson,  exclaimed, 
in  a  tone  of  deep  sympathj",  '  Poor  fellow !  what  a  pity  he  is 
crazy !'  *  *  *  *  Brown  and  Wilson  were  more 
prosperous.  They  both  lived  to  retire  from  business  in  easy 
circumstances.  The  former,  indeed,  became  rich,  and  set  up 
his  carriage.  He  was  of  too  noble  a  spirit  to  indulge  either  in 
luxurious  pride  or  ostentation.  The  coat  of  arms  on  the  panels 
of  his  carriage  doors  was  of  his  own  contriving,  and  consisted 
of  a  muscular  hand,  grasping  a  sledge  hammer  suspended  over 
an  anvil.  Motto,  "  By  this  I  got  you." 

His  principal  occupation  now  was  writing  his  journal 
arid  autobiography,  wearying  his  patrons  with  applica- 
tions and  remonstrances,  and  railing  at  the  ignorance, 

boat  by  workmen.  The  stockholders  were  men  of  means,  and 
able  to  pay.  Beside  this,  enough  has  already  been  adduced  to 
show  that  their  policy  was  "  pay  as  you  go." 


340  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

prejudice,  and  folly  of  the  world.  In  one  of  these 
complaints,  he  laments  that  mankind  should  neglect  so 
important  a  work  as  the  steam-boat,  whilst  they  run 
mad  about  "  beloons  and  fireworks."  (See  Note  at  the 
end  of  this  Chapter.) 

More  touching  is  the  prophetic  language,  "  The  day 
will  come  when  some  more  powerful  man  will  get  fame 
and  riches  from  MY  invention ;  but  nobody  will  believe 
that  poor  John  Fitch  can  do  anything  worthy  of  at- 
tention." 

His  misfortunes  had  a  tendency  to  render  him  queru- 
lous. He  believed  that  he  had  been  injured.  Not  for- 
getting the  injustice  done  him  by  the  Commissioners 
of  Patents,  he  prepared  the  following  letter,  addressed 
to  Thomas  Jefferson : 

I,  Sir,  am  sorry  to  live  in  a  state  that  no  sooner  becomes  a 
nation  than  it  becomes  depraved.  The  injurys  which  I -<have 
received  from  my  nation,  or  rather  from  the  first  officers  of  Go- 
vernment, has  induced  me,  for  a  lesson  of  caution  to  future 
generations,  to  Record  the  treatment  which  I  have  received, 
which  will  in  a  very  few  days  be  sealed  up  and  placed  in  the 
Library  of  Philadelphia,  to  remain  under  seal  till  after  my 
death,  in  which,  sir,  your  candour  is  very  seriously  called  in 
question. 

I,  Sir,  altho  an  Indigent  citizen,  feal  myself  upon  an  equal 
floore  with  the  first  officers  of  Government ;  therefore  trust  that 
your  Exalted  station  will  not  permit  you  to  treat  this  proposal 
with  Contempt,  as  I  do  not  wish  to  take  any  undue  advantage ; 
and  should  I  outlive  you,  and  you  not  having  it  in  your  Power 
to  make  your  defence,  I  should  think  it  unmanly,  to  conceal  it 
from  you  ;  therefore  offer  you  the  perusal  of  all  my  manuscripts 
for  six  days,  on  your  giveing  in  writing  your  Plighted  faith  of 
honor,  to  return  them  all  safe  in  that  Time,  and  on  these  condi- 
tions :  that  if  you  should  make  any  observations  upon  them, 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  341 

that  you  will  furnish  me  with  a  Coppy  of  the  same.  This, 
Sir,  is  from  a  poor  but  an  independant  Citizen  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  from  one  who  wishes  to  subscribe 
himself 

Your  most  sincear  friend, 

JOHN  FITCH. 
24  July,  1792. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  Esq. 

This  epistle  was  never  delivered  to  Mr.  Jefferson. 
The  friends  of  Fitch  persuaded  him  not  to  send  it. 
He  enclosed  it  among  his  papers  delivered  to  the  Phi- 
ladelphia Library  Company.1 

Wearied,  disappointed,  and  sorrowful,  he  seems  to 
have  at  this  period  seriously  contemplated  an  awful 
finale  to  an  existence  which  had  been  apparently  spent 
with  little  advantage  to  himself  or  to  mankind.  Four 
days  after  he  penned  the  letter  to  Jefferson,  he  ad- 
dressed another  to  the  Librarian  of  the  Philadelphia 
Library,  in  which  he  plainly  intimated  his  design  of 
dying  by  his  own  hand,  believing  that  the  letter  would 

1  Some  correspondence  was  afterwards  held  with  his  family, 
as  appears  by  a  letter  dated  the  25th  of  September,  1792,  ad- 
dressed to  Colonel  James  Kilbourne,  his  son-in-law,  who  had 
married  his  daughter  Lucy  : 

"  My  dear  child,  know  that  I  am  a  man  of  tender  feelings, 
however  my  children  may  have  been  educated  to  form  their 
opinions  of  me.  No  man  loves  his  children  better  than  myself, 
although  I  never  saw  but  one.  Forgive  me  for  not  entering  into 
a  justification  of  my  conduct,  but  esteem  your  mother  in  law 
and  myself  as  we  have  both  merited  ;  but  I  require  of  you  that 
you  treat  her  kindly,  because  she  was  once  the  wife  of  John 
Fitch.  But,  much  as  I  love  my  children,  any  mediation  through 
them  would  be  ineffectual." — Whittlesey.  Sparks'  American 
Biography,  page  101. 

29  * 


342  LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH. 

not  be  read  until  many  years  after  he  had  left  the 
troubled  stage  of  life.  The  epistle,  which  was  designed 
to  accompany  his  manuscripts,  (being  sealed  up  with 
them,)  was  in  these  words : 

The  3d  No.1  I  wrote  before  I  revised  my  work  for  the  Com- 
missioners the  3d  time,  which  made  many  alterations  in  it ;  not 
only  that,  but  was  much  in  a  Hurry,  and  was  obliged  to  put 
down  matters  in  improper  places,  which  I  wish  to  be  revised, 
and  placed  regular,  as  they  ought  to  stand.  Likewise,  as  I  am 
no  Gramarin,  I  wish  the  whole  of  my  works  revised,  but  not 
altered  in  substance,  and  that  the  original  may  forever  remain 
in  the  Libary. 

Some  few  days  before  my  death,  I  wrote  the  enclosed  copy 
of  a  letter  to  Mr.  Jefferson  ;  but  being  persuaded  from  it  by 
some  of  my  Friends,  who  did  not  know  in  what  manner  I  de- 
signed to  die;  yet  at  present  wish  that  I  had  done  it,  altho  I 
believe  he  would  have  so  little  to  have  said  in  his  own  defence, 
that  he  would  have  probably  treated  it  with  contempt,  without 
noticeing  it. 

I  have  two  reasons  for  keeping  it  under  seal  for  30  years, 
altho  I  must  be  a  sufferer  during  that  time.  The  first  is,  there 
is  two  valuable  families  that  the  children  might  possibly  be  in- 
jured by  it,  but  in  that  time  may  probably  be  Marryed,  and  the 
improper  conduct  of  their  parents  may  not  hurt  their  temporal 
interest,  however  Injured  I  may  have  been  by  them. 

Another  is,  that  the  warmth  of  the  present  age  is  so  much  in 
favour  of  the  first  officers  of  the  Government,  whom  I  have  so 
strenuously  called  in  question  their  Candour,  that  I  much  fear 
that  they  would  be  destroyed  without  ever  giveing  the  world  an 
opportunity  of  knowing  in  what  manner  I  have  been  treated  by 
them. 

But  should  these,  by  curiosity,  or  any  axcedent,  be  broken 
open  before  the  time  Limited,  I  call  on  every  Mason,  and  every 
honest  man,  to  see  them  protected ;  and  if  any  one  has  any  ob- 
jections to  them,  let  them  convince  the  world  by  fair  reasoning 
that  I  am  wrong,  but  let  the  works  be  saved. 

1  Meaning  the  third  book  of  the  manuscripts. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  343 

After  which,  it  is  my  serious  request  that  no  one  be  permited 
to  take  them  out  of  the  Libary  without  giving  one  Thousand 
Pounds  security  for  their  safe  return.  JOHN  FITCH. 

To  the  Liberarian. 

Philadelphia,  30  July,  1792. 

The  MSS.  seem  to  have  been  sealed  up  by  him  at 
that  time.  The  envelope  bears  the  date,  August  1, 
1792,  but  the  package  was  not  immediately  delivered. 

The  following  entry  upon  the  minute-book  of  the 
Library  Company  of  Philadelphia,  records  the  recep- 
tion of  these  manuscripts : 

Oct.  4,  1792.  —  A  sealed  cover,  inscribed  Manuscripts,  was 
presented  by  John  Fitch,  who  requests  the  same  may  be  kept 
unopened  until  the  year  1823.  The  Librarian  is  directed  to 
deposit  the  same  in  the  Museum. 

He  afterwards  inquired  whether  the  Library  Com- 
pany would  accept  the  trust ;  and  having  been  informed 
of  their  action,  he  addressed  the  following  supplemen- 
tary letter  of  directions  to  the  Librarian  of  the  insti- 
tution : 

Philad.,  24  October,  1792. 

To  the  Liberarian  of  the  Philadelphia  Literary. 

SIR,  the  reason  of  my  keeping  the  manuscripts  under  seal  so 
long,  was  for  fear  that  the  Violence  of  the  Times,  or  the  parties 
•vvhome  they  eifected,  might  be  a  means  of  having  them  destroyed. 
This  is  to  requestyou  that  whenever  a  person  should  come  forward 
and  pledge  his  honor  that  he  will  revise  them  over,  and  do  them 
justice,  and  spare  no  man,  however  high  in  office,  but  convey 
my  Ideas  of  them,  and  give  security  for  publishing  one  Thou- 
sand Coppies,  and  of  the  return  of  those  manuscripts  to  the  Li- 
berary,  that  you  Petition  the  Governour  and  the  managers  of 
the  Liberary  for  leave  to  Breake  the  Seals  ;  and  by  his  giveing 
security  for  their  safe  return  to  the  Liberary  in  one  year,  to  my 
Executors,  he  be  permitted  to  open  and  publish  the  same. 


344  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

This  is  further  to  request  you,  that  should  Mr.  Jefferson  ever 
be  aiming/  toward  the  president's  Chair,  by  all  means  to  obtain 
leave  to  breake  the  seals,  and  extract  what  effects  the  Commis- 
eioners  of  Congress,  and  then  seal  them  again.  Nay,  sir,  I  wish 
it  done  to  all  the  scounderals  that  is  steping  forward  for  more 
favours  from  their  country.  I  mean  Lewis,  Clymer,  Fitzsim- 
ons,  McKain,  Rush,  &c.,  &c. ;  and  if  Mr.  Robertson  had  been 
worth  notice,  I  would  have  mentioned  his  name.  I  wish  them 
to  be  published  in  their  life  time,  that  they  may  say  all  they 
can  against  it,  but  in  such  a  manner  that  it  will  not  be  in  their 
pow  [power]  to  destroy  those  works ;  and  I  think  when  the 
Governour  and  managers  knows  that  it  is  my  desire,  that  there 
•will  be  no  scruples  of  breaking  the  seals. 

I  trust,  sir,  that  you  will  seal  this  letter  to  the  manuscript, 
that  it  may  not  be  lost,  and  permit  me  to  say,  I  am 

Your  Most  Obeadent, 
Humble  Servant, 

To  the  Liberarian  of  the  JOHN  FITCH. 

Philad.  Liberary. 

These  manuscripts  are  contained  in  six  books,  with 
pasteboard  covers,  of  the  old-fashioned  "  cyphering- 
book  "  style.  They  are  divided  into  two  parts  ;  one 
embracing  particularly  the  history  of  the  steam-boat, 
the  other  being  an  autobiography.  The  steam-boat 
history  embraces  310  pages,  the  autobiography  145 
pages ;  the  sixth  part,  separately  paged,  is  a  copy  of 
the  remonstrances  and  arguments  addressed  to  the 
Commissioners  of  Patents,  and  occupies  56  pages. 
The  style  is  plain,  and  unpretending ;  the  important 
facts  are  scattered  throughout  the  MSS.  without  order, 
and  in  some  cases  in  obscure  confusion.  It  requires 
comparison,  earnest  attention,  and  in  fact  close  study, 
to  gather  the  threads  of  the  narrative ;  so  many  are 
the  points  at  which  divergence  has  been  made  to  intro- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  345 

ducc  statements  not  in  their  regular  places.  The  auto- 
biography is  frank  in  its  revelations.  There  does  not 
seem  to  be  a  desire  to  conceal  anything,  and  some  con- 
fessions of  weakness  are  made  which  almost  any  one 
who  was  writing  the  narrative  of  his  own  life  would 
desire  to  hide.  We  have  not  thought  it  worth  while 
to  advert  to  one  or  two  of  these  matters,  because, 
while  they  reflect  no  discredit  upon  Fitch,  and  show 
him  to  have  been  a  man  of  generous  impulse,  they 
would  injuriously  affect  the  reputation  of  others.  The 
autobiography  is  addressed  to  the  Worthy  and  Reve- 
rend Nathaniel  Irwin.1  The  steam-boat  history  is 

1  The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Irwin  lived  in  the  township  of  Warring- 
ton,  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania.  The  house  stood  on  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Doylestown  and  Willow  Grove  turnpike  road, 
about  a  mile  south  of  Newville.  This  house  is  still  standing, 
and  is  now  owned  by  E.  H.  Eldridge,  of  Philadelphia.  It  is 
about  three  miles  west  of  the  Neshaminy  Church.  At  the 
graveyard  of  this  latter  place  ia  the  following  inscription,  upon 
a  large,  flat  tombstone  : 

"  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  Irwin ;  who 
was  ordained  to  the  Gospel  Ministry,  and  installed  Pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Neshaminy,  November  3d,  1774,  and 
departed  this  life  March  3d,  1812.  Aged  65  years,  4  months, 
and  15  days." 

On  the  same  is  mentioned  that  Priscilla,  his  wife,  died  August 
3d,  1822,  aged  62  years. 

"  When  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  States  determined,  in  the  year  1811,  to  establish  a 
Theological  Seminary,  for  the  more  thorough  training  of  her 
candidates  for  the  sacred  office,  there  was  much  diversity  of 
opinion  respecting  the  most  eligible  site  for  the  institution. 
Between  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  Chambersburg,  Pa.,  the  chief 
competition  existed ;  but  there  were  a  few  persons  who  were 
strongly  in  favour  of  placing  it  on  the  very  site  of  the  Log  Col- 


346  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

more  particularly  directed,  in  the  beginning,  "  to  my 
children." 

The  following  extract  from  the  minutes  of  the  Li- 
brary Company  record  the  fact  of  the  formal  opening 
of  Fitch's  manuscripts,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Directors, 
Feb.  6,  .1823. 

"  The  Books  and  papers,  enclosed  under  sealed  envelope,  from 
John  Fitch,  dated  the  first  day  of  August,  One  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  ninety  two,  to  be  opened  in  thirty  years  from  the 
first  day  of  February,  One  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety 

lege.  The  Rev.  Nathaniel  Irwin,  then  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Neshaminy,  and  a  man  of  profound  understanding,  was  ear- 
nestly desirous  that  it  should  be  planted  on  the  ground  where  a 
building  had  once  stood  to  which  the  Presbyterian  Church  owes 
so  much.  And  to  manifest  his  sincerity  and  zeal,  Mr.  Irwin 
left  in  his  will  a  considerable  bequest  ($1000)  to  the  Seminary, 
on  condition  that  it  should  be  ultimately  located  there." — His- 
tory of  the  Log  College,  by  Rev.  A.  Alexander,  D.  D.,  pages 
16,  17. 

In  the  gable  end  of  the  church  is  a  stone,  with  the  following 
inscription  :  "  The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Neshaminy,  founded 
in  1710,  edifice  erected  in  1743,  enlarged  1775,  repaired  1842." 

It  is  supposed  to  be  one  of  the  earliest  places  of  worship  of 
this  denomination  in  the  country.  It  is  beautifully  situated  by 
the  Neshaminy,  secluded,  and  surrounded  by  old  forest  trees. 

Mr.  Irwin  was  licensed  to  preach  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  Delaware,  in  1772-3.  By 
authority  of  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  he  was 
sent  in  the  latter  year  to  the  southern  and  western  frontiers  as 
a  missionary,  and  went  to  the  back  parts  of  Virginia  and  Penn- 
sylvania. Returning  in  1774,  he  was  received  a  member  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,  and  stationed  at  Neshaminy  Church, 
lie  was  several  times  Clerk  of  the  Synod  and  General  Assembly 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  1800  was  elected  a  Trustee 
of  the  latter  body.  He  was  a  worthy,  fervent,  and  faithful 
preacher. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  347 

three,  were  opened,  and  found  to  consist  of  a  letter  to  the  Libra- 
rian, Marked  A,  another  to  the  Librarian,  marked  B,  a  draft  of 
another  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  marked  C,  and  six  folio  manu- 
script paper  books,  marked  in  the  centre  of  the  covers,  D,  E,  F, 
G,  II,  and  I,  by  Benj.  R.  Morgan,  Secretary.  Dr.  Parke,  Mr. 
Norris,  and  Mr.  Gibson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine 
the  above  books  and  papers,  deposited  by  John  Fitch,  and  report 
an  abstract  of  them  to  the  board,  and  also  to  suggest  such 
order  as  it  will  be  proper  to  take  thereon."  "At  a  meeting  of 
the  Directors,  March  6th,  1823,  the  Committee  appointed  at  the 
last  meeting  for  that  purpose  reported  an  abstract  of  the  books 
and  papers  deposited  by  Mr.  Fitch,  and  suggested  that  those- 
books  and  papers,  together  with  the  abstract,  be  placed  under 
the  care  of  the  Librarian  until  the  further  orders  of  the  Board ; 
which  was  agreed  to  by  the  board." 

Although  not  in  the  proper  place,  it  is  of  sufficient 
importance,  to  add  here  a  fact  which  was  not  known 
to  the  writer  of  this  biography  until  the  work  of  the 
printer  had  reached  the  present  point.  This  is,  that 
there  is  jet  living  in  Philadelphia  (July,  1857)  a  gen- 
tleman, Mr.  Samuel  Palmer,  who  was  a  passenger  upon 
Fitch's  steam-hoat.  His  father,  Mr.  Thomas  Palmer, 
was  a  member  of  the  Steam-boat  Company,  and  seems 
to  have  made  much  larger  advances  to  aid  the  scheme 
than  the  majority  of  his  associate  shareholders.  (See 
page  183  and  page  317.)  Mr.  Samuel  Palmer,  when 
a  small  boy,  made  a  trip,  in  company  with  his  father, 
upon  Fitch's  boat,  from  Philadelphia  to  Burlington. 
He  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  journey.  They 
went  on  board  at  Market  street  wharf,  at  which  a  large 
number  of  persons  were  collected  to  see  them  start. 
The  steam-boat  was  propelled  by  paddles  in  the  stern. 
It  went  along  noisily,  the  machinery  producing  a  con- 


348  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

stant  creaking  and  shaking,  and  the  force  of  the  engine 
causing  the  boat  to  tremble  in  consequence  of  the  re- 
sistance of  the  water.  At  Burlington  they  came  to 
at  Kisselman's  wharf,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town. 
Mr.  Palmer  is  unable  to  fix  the  date  of  this  voyage ; 
but  as  the  boat  in  the  regular  trips  in  1790  went  from 
Arch  street  wharf,  and  the  starting-place  on  this  occa- 
sion was  Market  street  wharf,  it  is  probable  that  Mr. 
Palmer's  journey  was  either  in  1788,  after  the  success- 
ful experiments,  or  in  May,  1790,  before  the  steam- 
boat ran  regularly  for  the  conveyance  of  passengers 
and  freight. 

Here  the  history  of  the  Philadelphia  steam-boats 
properly  ceases.  The  Perseverance,  with  the  engine 
nearly  finished,  was  abandoned.  The  shareholders 
became  careless  upon  the  subject.  For  four  years  the 
boat  and  machinery  remained  without  change.  The 
following  advertisement,  from  Bache's  Aurora  and 
General  Advertiser  of  August  18,  1795,  announced 
the  last  act  in  the  melancholy  drama : 

A   STEAM    EXCISE. 

On  Wednesday,  the  24th  inst.,  will  be  sold  by  Public  Vendue, 
on  Smith's  wharf,  between  Race  and  Vine  streets,  a  sixteen  inch 
cilinder  steam  engine,  with  machinery  appertaining  thereto. 
The  terms  of  the  sale  will  be  cash,  and  the  sale  to  commence  at 
teu  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Composing  the  same  there  are,  viz.: 

A  COPPER  BOILER,  with  2  large  pipes,  cocks,  &c. 

A  16  INCH  CAST  IRON  CILINDER,  STEAM  CHEST,  PISTON,  ROD, 
CHAIN,  &C. 

A  LEADEN  SINK  PIPE  &  BRASS  VALVE. 

A  LEADEN  PIPE  AND  COCK,  for  supplying  the  piston. 
One  do.  for  the  waste  water. 

One  LEAD  CILINDER  CCP. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  349 

A  LEAD  PUMP  for  injection  water. 
2  CISTERNS. 

1  large  fly  wheel  (cast  iron)  and  AXLE  thereof. 

2  TWO  FEET  CAST  IRON  WHEELS,  handy  for  steam  and  injection. 

A  FURNACE  DOOR  and  GRATING. 

A  9  or  10  feet  LEVER  or  BEAM. 

PUMP  RODS  and  boxes  for  do. 

A  SMOKE  pipe,  and  sundry  other  apparatus,  &c. 

EDWARD  POLE, 

Auctioneer. 


Note   to  page  340. 

Balloons,  fireworks,  and  steam-boats  were  equally  objects  of 
attention  about  this  time,  and  they  fairly  divided  the  public 
wonder  between  them  as  matters  of  curiosity,  but  of  no  real 
utility.  Of  the  three,  steam-boats  were  least  cared  about.  Bal- 
loons and  fireworks  enjoyed  a  certain  share  of  popularity,  but 
steam-boats  were  subjects  of  derision.  The  allusion  of  Fitch 
was  caused  by  circumstances  which  could  not  escape  the  atten- 
tion of  any  one  who  watched  the  signs  of  the  times.  The  first 
successful  ascent  with  an  aerostat  in  the  United  States  (it  is  be- 
lieved) was  made  in  1784,  by  Mr.  Carnes,  of  Maryland.  He 
brought  his  balloon  to  Philadelphia,  and  an  ascent  was  an- 
nounced to  take  place  on  the  17th  of  July,  in  that  year,  from 
"  the  new  work-house  yard."  The  balloon  was  of  flimsy  silk, 
having  holes  in  some  places,  and  being  patched  in  others  with 
bed-tick.  It  was  without  a  proper  net-work,  and  the  power 
which  was  to  raise  it  was  not  gas,  but  heated  or  rarified  air.  To 
render  this  fire  balloon  -successful,  it  was  necessary  to  have  a 
stove  with  fuel  to  burn  in  the  mouth  or  neck  of  the  machine,  so 
as  to  keep  the  air  rarified.  The  furnace  thus  employed  weighed 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  The  aerostat  was  thirty-five  feet 
in  diameter,  and  it  was  supposed  it  would  carry  four  hundred 
and  nine  pounds.  On  the  appointed  day  the  fire  was  kindled, 
the  silken  sphere  expanded,  and  the  cords  being  cut,  the  ma- 
chine slowly  ascended.  The  air  blew  it  against  tho  prison-wall. 
Mr.  Carnes  was  brushed  against  it,  and  fell  to  the  .ground. 

30 


350  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

This  was  a  lucky  disaster;  for  the  balloon  soon  afterwards 
caught  fire,  and  was  consumed.  The  stove  fell  in  South  street, 
near  the  old  theatre.  Undaunted  by  this  failure,  some  of  the 
town  philosophers  proposed  to  raise  subscriptions  to  construct  a 
larger  balloon,  sixty  feet  in  diameter,  and  capable  of  raising 
3373  pounds.  This  scheme  never  came  to  fruition. 

The  next  wonder  was  the  steam-boat ;  which,  by  those  who 
remembered  Games'  failure,  was  placed  in  the  same  category. 

In  1792,  the  celebrated  Blanchard  came  to  Philadelphia,  and 
with  pompous  flourish  announced  his  intention  of  making  his 
forty-fifth  ascension.  He  took  up  considerable  space  in  the 
newspapers,  and  had  a  tact  in  skilfully  inflaming  public  curi- 
osity equal  to  the  latter-day  cunning  of  our  most  renowned 
showmen.  M.  Blanchard  chose  the  jail-yard  —  or  "prison- 
court,"  as  it  was  politely  called  —  for  his  place  of  exhibition. 
He  was  addressed,  or  affected  to  have  been  addressed,  by  vari- 
ous persons,  for  the  honor  of  participation  in  the  trip.  To 
these  he  made  replies  through  the  newspapers,  declining  com- 
pany, upon  account  of  having  only  brought  4200  pounds  of 
vitriolic  acid  with  him — a  quantity  only  sufficient  to  enable  him 
to  effect  one  ascension  by  himself.  He  said  that  enough  vitriol 
to  justify  him  in  taking  up  another  person  could  not  be  had  in 
Philadelphia,  and  that  to  buy  it  would  cost  one  hundred  guineas. 
He  proposed  to  receive  subscriptions,  at  five  dollars  each  ;  but 
finding  that  there  was  not  much  alacrity  in  embracing  the  op- 
portunity, he  agreed  to  issue  tickets  for  inferior  places  at  two 
dollars  each.  He  estimated  that  five  hundred  first-class  sub- 
scribers would  be  necessary"  to  pay  the  expenses,  arid  was  ready 
to  issue  one  thousand  second-class  tickets.  The  10th  of  January, 
1793,  was  appointed  for  the  ascension.  President  Washington 
was  present  at  9  o'clock,  and  Fisher's  artillery  fired  fifteen  guns 
in  honor  of  his  appearance.  From  that  time  until  the  ascent, 
two  guns  were  fired  every  fifteen  minutes.  AV7ithin  the  yard  the 
audience  was  small,  but  outside  it  was  immense.  At  five  mi- 
nutes past  10  o'clock,  Mons.  Blanchard,  attired  in  a  blue  dress, 
•wearing  a  cocked  hat  with  a  white  feather,  stepped  into  a  blue 
and  spangled  car,  attached  to  cords  covering  a  balloon  of  yellow 
silk.  General  Washington  handed  him  a  paper,  and  spoke  a 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  351 

few  words.  The  cords  were  cut,  the  band  struck  up  a  lively 
air,  and  Mons.  Blanchard  went  up,  waving  the  American  and 
French  flags.  In  forty-six  minutes  the  aeronaut  safely  descended 
near  Woodbury,  N.  J.,  shortly  afterward  was  brought  back  to 
the  city,  and  immediately  called  upon  the  President  to  pay  his 
respects. 

The 'affair,  as  a  pecuniary  enterprise,  was  represented  to  be  a 
failure.  One  of  the  newspapers  of  the  day  apologised  for  tho 
fact  in  this  wise:  "Great  numbers  who  had  neglected  to  pur- 
chase tickets  were  afflicted  with  considerable  regret  at  not  having 
been  immediately  present  in  the  Prison  Court,  to  see  the  prepa- 
rations and  witness  the  undaunted  countenance  of  the  man  who 
thus  sublimely  dared  to  soar  thi-ough  the  regions  of  air."  Much 
adulation  was  expressed  of  a  similar  kind.  The  following  lines, 
in  French,  appeared  in  the  newspapers: 

"  Grand  Blanchard,  lorsque  tu  voleras  dans  les  airs, 
Va  annoncer  aux  pianettes  de  le  universe ; 
Que  les  Franqois  ont  vaincu  leurs  ennemis  interieurs, 
Leur  intrepidite  a  expulc  les  exterieurs : 
Penetre  dans  1'Olimpe,  et  dis  a  tous  les  dieux, 
Que  les  Francois  ont  6te  les  victorieux! 
Prie  Mars  que  les  armes  de  la  France, 
Ne  laisse  aux  tirans  aucune  esperance." 

"  Great  Blanchard,  as  you  wing  your  way  towards  the  hea- 
vens, announce  to  all  the  planets  of  the  universe  that  French- 
men have  conquered  their  interior  enemies,  and  that  those  with- 
out have  been  repulsed  by  their  intrepidity.  Dart  through 
Olympus,  and  tell  the  gods  that  Frenchmen  have  been  victori- 
ous. Implore  the  aid  of  Mars,  that  the  arms  of  France  may 
crush  the  ambitious  designs  of  tyrants  forever." 

Another  flatterer  said, 

"  Franklin,  with  a  firm  grasp,  dared  to  seize  the  lightning  in 
the  immensity  of  space  where  it  is  formed.  Blanchard,  bold  in 
his  flight,  visits  those  regions.  He  traverses  them  as  his  con- 
quest. The  glory  earned  by  the  courage  and  ingenuity  of  the 
French  Philosopher  is  not  eclipsed  by  that  which  the  intrepid 
sagacity  of  the  American  Philosopher  merited." 


352  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

The  following  verses  are  clever : 

To  Mr.  Blanchard,  the  celebrated  ^Eronaut,  on  his  Ascent  in  a 
Balloon  from  the  Jail  Yard  in  Philadelphia,  1793. 

By  science  taught,  on  silken  wings 
Beyond  our  grovelling  race  you  rise, 

And,  soaring  from  terrestrial  things, 
Explore  a  pnssage  to  the  skies. 

0,  could  I  thus  exalted  sail, 

And  rise  with  you  beyond  the  jail ! 

Ah  !  when  you  rose,  impelled  by  fear, 
Each  bosom  heaved  a  thousand  sighs  ; 

To  you  each  female  lent  a  tear, 

And  held  the  'kerchief  to  her  eyes ; 

All  hearts  still  followed  as  you  flew, 

All  eyes  admired  a  sight  so  new. 

Whoe'er  shall  thus  presume  to  fly, 
While  downward  with  disdain  they  look, 

Shall  own  this  journey  through  the  sky 
The  dearest  jaunt  they  ever  took  ; 

And  choose  next  time  without  reproach 

A  humbler  seat  in  Inskeep's  coach. 

The  birds,  that  cleave  the  expanse  of  air, 
Admiring,  view  your  globe  full  blown  ; 

And  chattering  round  the  painted  car, 
Complain  your  flight  outdoes  their  own  ; 

Beyond  their  track  you  proudly  swim, 

Nor  fear  the  loss  of  life  or  limb. 

How  vast  the  height,  how  grand  the  scene 
That  your  enraptured  eye  surveys, 

When,  towering  in  your  gay  machine, 
You  leave  the  astonished  world  to  gaze, 

And,  wandering  in  the  etherial  blue, 

Our  eyes  in  vain  your  course  pursue  ! 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  353 

The  Orb  of  Day,  how  dazzling  bright! 

In  paler  radiance  gleams  the  Moon  ; 
And  Terra,  whence  you  took  your  flight, 

Appears  to  you  a  mere  balloon  ; 
Its  noisy  crew  no  longer  heard, 
Towns,  cities,  forests  disappeared. 

Yet,  travelling  through  the  azure  road, 

Soar  not  too  high  for  human  ken  ; 
Reflect :  our  humble,  safe  abode, 

Is  all  that  nature  meant  for  men. 
Take  in  your  sails  before  you  freeze, 
And  sink  again  among  the  trees. 

One  Joseph  Ravara,  Consul  General  for  Genoa,  who  was  re- 
presented to  have  been  a  great  traveller  on  land  and  water, 
besought  the  honor  of  adding  a  new  distinction  to  his  character 
as  a  voyager  by  a  flight  in  the  regions  of  air.  He  addressed 
M.  Blanchard  publicly,  offering  to  take  up  subscriptions  to 
reimburse  him.  The  latter  did  not  object.  The  finale  of  the 
matter  was,  that  M.  Blanchard  announced  that  he  had  received 
for  the  sale  of  tickets,  $400;  subscriptions,  $263;  total,  $6G3. 
His  expenses  he  represented  to  be  500  guineas ;  so  that  he  was 
$1580  out  of  pocket.  Mr.  Ravara  did  not  "  go  up,"  but  perhaps 
enjoyed  as  much  distinction  by  an  exhibition  of  his  effigy,  as 
large  as  life,  at  Bowers'  wax-work  show,  North  Eighth  street, 
above  Market,  seated,  with  a  counterfeit  figure  of  M.  Blanchard, 
in  a  car  suspended  from  the  ceiling  of  the  room,  "  the  American 
and  French  flags  in  their  hands,  and  having  on  their  own 
clothes."  M.  Blanchard  was  honored  by  Governor  Mifflin  with 
the  use  of  a  portion  of  his  lot  on  the  north  side  of  Chestnut 
street  above  Eighth.  Here  the  Frenchman  built  a  rotunda,  and 
exhibited  his  balloon  ;  but  some  rascals  threw  stones  against  it 
and  broke  the  silk ;  so  Mr.  Ravara  did  not  ascend.  Subse- 
quently, on  two  occasions,  Blanchard  sent  up  a  balloon  with  a 
parachute  attached,  having  dogs  and  cats  in  the  car,  which  was 
detached  by  an  explosion,  the  animals  descending  safely  to  the 
ground.  In  1794,  he  advertised  his  willingness  to  make  an 
ascension  if  it  was  possible  to  obtain  twelve  pipes,  or  cylinder 
30* 


354  LIFE  or  JOHN  FITCH. 

tubes,«eix  feet  long.  With  such  apparatus,  he  said  he  could 
fill  his  balloon  with  gas  in  two  days.  It  was  verv  difficult  to 
get  such  work  done  in  this  country,  but  a  proprietor  of  an  iron- 
furnace  undertook  to  do  it.  On  the  faith  of  this  contract  the 
aeronaut  announced  his  forty-sixth  ascension,  but  a  day  or  two 
afterwards  postponed  it,  declaring  that  an  experimental  trial  had 
shown  the  pipes  and  castings  to  be  worthless.  He  then  gave 
notice  that  he  would  cease  all  further  attempts  at  aerostation  in 
this  country,  "  until  the  arts  are  brought  to  such  perfection  as 
to  furnish  him  the  means  necessary  to  success."  Blanchard 
exhibited  in  his  Rotunda  models  of  balloons  and  mechanical 
contrivances.  The  following  advertisement,  published  in  Au- 
gust, 1793,  is  so  curious  that  it  is  worthy  of  preservation : 

A    CURIOUS    CARRIAGE. 

MR.  BLANCHARD,  adopted  citizen  of  the  principal  cities  in  Eu- 
rope, Pensioner  of  the  French  Nation,  Member  of  several  Aca- 
demies, &c.,  &c.,  has  invented  a  carriage  which  runs  without  the 
assistance  of  horses,  and  goes  as  fast  as  the  best  post  chaise. 
An  Automaton  in  the  shape  of  an  eagle,  chained  to  the  tongue 
of  the  carriage,  and  guided  by  the  traveller,  who  holds  the  reins 
in  bis  hands,  directs  it  in  every  respect.  This  extraordinary 
carriage  can  not  only  travel  on  all  roads,  but  likewise  ascends 
any  mountain  which  is  accessible  to  any  common  carriage.  The 
distance  it  may  proceed  is  unlimited,  aa  there  is  no  springs  in 
the  case  that  require  winding  up. 

Monday,  the  26th  August,  at  half  past  five  o'clock,  at  his  Ro- 
tunda, on  Gov.  Mifflin's  lot,  Philadelphia,  Mr.  Blanchard  will 
make  two  experiments  ;  the  one  of  Natural  Philosophy,  and  the 
other  of  Mechanism.  An  air  balloon  of  11,498  cubic  feet  will 
be  filled  with  Atmospheric  Air  in  the  space  of  six  minutes, 
(instead  of  ten  hours,  which  were  required  formerly,)  by  the 
help  of  a  Machine  which  he  has  invented,  and  but  lately  brought 
to  perfection.  The  Eagle  fixed  to  the  carriage  beginning  its 
flight,  the  carriage  will  come  out  from  it,  stand  and  run  round 
the  place,  carrying  two  persons. 

The  entrance  is  half  a  dollar,  the  door  will  be  opened  at  five 
o'clock,  and  the  experiments  begin  precisely  at  half  past  five. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  355 

Gentlemen  who  have  dogs  accustomed  to  the  chase- are  re- 
quested not  to  bring  them  along,  as  experiment  has  shown  that 
they  may  prove  very  dangerous  to  the  eagle,  which  imitates 
nature  to  perfection. 

Note. —  Select  parties,  who  wish  to  see  this  experiment  by 
themselves,  will  please  to  apply  to  Mr.  Blanchard,  at  THE  RO- 
TUNDA, who  will  be  happy  to  satisfy  the  curiosity  of  amateurs. 

The  allusion  made  by  Fitch  to  "  Fireworks  "  was  caused  by 
the  success  of  several  foreign  artists  who  had  given  exhibitions 
in  Philadelphia.  Among  the  names  of  these,  the  most  deserv- 
ing of  preservation  are  Michael  Ambroise  &  Co.,  whose  claims 
to  remembrance  are  founded  upon  the  interesting  fact  that  they 
were  the  first  who  manufactured  inflammable  gas  and  exhibited 
gas-lights  in  America.  They  had  an  amphitheatre  in  Arch 
street  between  Eighth  and  Ninth,  where  they  frequently  dis- 
played their  fireworks.  In  August,  1796,  they  advertised  an 
exhibition  of  fireworks,  one  part  composed  of  combustibles  in 
the  usual  style,  the  other  of  "  inflammable  air,  by  the  assistance 
of  light,"  as  "  lately  practiced  in  Europe."  Of  the  latter  they 
formed  "  an  Italian  parterre,"  "  a  picture  of  the  mysteries  of 
Masonry,"  "  a  view  of  a  superb  country  seat,"  "  a  grand  por- 
tico," etc.  There  were  eight  pieces  of  these  gas  illuminations ; 
and  as  they  must  have  been  produced  by  bending  pipes  in  the 
required  forms,  we  may  suppose  that  Messrs.  Ambroise  &  Co. 
were  ingenious  artists  and  mechanics  at  a  time  when  the  arts 
in  this  country  were  yet  in  a  very  rude  state. 


356  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

FITCH    GOES   TO   FRANCE  —  HIS   RETURN  —  SUICIDE. 

WE  have  now  arrived  at  a  period  in  the  life  of  this 
ill-treated  man  concerning  which  but  few  facts  are 
known.  He  probably  remained  in  Philadelphia  until 
some  time  in  1793.  In  the  "American  Remembrancer 
and  Universal  Tablet  of  Memory,"  by  James  Hardie, 
A.  M.,  published  in  Philadelphia  in  1795,  is  a  state- 
ment that  a  patent  was  granted  to  John  Fitch,  for  an 
improved  method  of  distillation,  in  1793.  A  reference 
to  the  Digest  of  Patents  from  1790  to  1839,  published 
by  H.  L.  Ellsworth,  under  authority  of  Congress,  does 
not  substantiate  this  allegation.  It  is  probable  that 
Mr.  Hardie,  who  resided  in  Philadelphia,  knew  that  a 
patent  had  been  applied  for,  and  supposed  it  was 
granted.  Perhaps  some  matter  of  form  may  have 
been  unattended  to,  or  the  design  may  have  been 
abandoned  at  the  time.  Dr.  Thornton,  one  of  Fitch's 
legatees,  obtained  a  patent  for  an  improvement  in  dis- 
tillation in  1807 ;  and  it  is  possible,  and  not  impro- 
bable, that  it  was  the  same  which  was  referred  to  by 
Mr.  Hardie. 

The  contract  with  Aaron  Vail  still  continued  in 
force,  and  the  Company  consented  that,  instead  of 
''the  mechanic"  whom  it  was  proposed  to  send  to 
France  to  build  steam-boats,  Fitch  should  himself  go. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  357 

He  sailed  from  America  in  1793. l  He  arrived  at 
L' Orient  at  a  time  when  the  troubles  of  the  Revolu- 
tion agitated  the  French  people,  and  when  all  business 
was  suspended.  "  He  could  not  obtain  the  pecuniary- 
aid  required  for  his  purposes ;  and  after  exhausting 
his  patience,  and  the  limited  means  at  his  disposal,  he 
deposited  his  papers  and  specifications  in  the  hands  of. 
Mr.  Vail,  and  crossed  the  Channel  to  England."2 

While  remaining  in  Philadelphia,  Fitch  had  become 
acquainted  with  many  of  the  ingenious  men  of  his  day, 
inventors  like  himself,  but  not  so  unfortunate.  Among 
others,  he  was  intimate  with  Robert  Leslie,  a  clock  and 
watch  maker,  who  resided,  in  1791,  on  the  north  side 
of  Market  street  between  Fourth  and  Fifth.  Mr. 
Leslie  had  made  some  important  improvements  in 
watches  and  clocks,  for  which  the  State  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, during  the  existence  of  the  Confederation,  had 
granted  him  exclusive  privileges.  Beside  his,  various 
modifications  in  the  machinery  of  time-pieces,  Mr. 
Leslie  had  perfected  other  inventions.  These  were,  in 
1792,  summed  up  as  follows  : 

A  machine  for  threshing  wheat  on  a  new  plan. 

A  horizontal  tide-mill,  to  work  with  both  tides. 

A  boat  to  sail  directly  against  the  wind,  or  in  any  other  direc- 
tion. 

A  horizontal  wind-mill,  so  constructed  that  the  wind  acts  oil 
both  sides  of  the  wheel  at  the  same  time. 

1  Longetreth.  Wbittlesey,  page  144.  Watson.  Duer's  second 
letter  to  Golden.  Dr.  Thornton's  Account. 

9  Nathaniel  Cutting  to  Fernando  Fairfax,  giving  the  substance 
of  a  statement  by  Aaron  Vail.  (Duer's  second  letter  to  Golden, 
page  57,  and  Appendix.) 


358  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

An  improvement  on  the  common  wheat-fan,  by  which  it  is 
made  to  produce  more  wind  with  less  labour. 

An  apparatus  for  blowing  the  fire  of  any  kind  of  furnace  by 
a  stream  of  water  without  a  bellows.  The  power  of  this  con- 
trivance may  be  increased  to  a  greater  degree  with  a  given 
quantity  of  water  than  the  same  quantity  could  produce  if  ap- 
plied to  giving  motion  to  a  common  bellows. 

A  machine  for  measuring  a  ship's  way. 

An  improvement  in  carriage  springs. 

A  standard  of  invariable  length,  by  means  of  a  cylindrical 
rod  of  iron,  of  such  length  as  to  perform  its  vibrations  in  one 
second  of  mean  time. 

A  method  of  continuing  the  impressions  in  dies  for  coining, 
and  other  purposes,  uniformly  the  same  as  they  are  wanted. 

Several  useful  discoveries  in  mills,  &c. 

Beside,  many  improvements  in  time-pieces. 

Early  in  1793,  Mr.  Leslie  announced  his  intention 
of  leaving  the  United  States  toward  the  end  of  April 
of  that  year.  His  property  was  sold  by  auction  on 
the  24th  of  April,  and  he  probably  left  Philadelphia 
in  the  packet-ship  which  sailed  the  next  month  for 
London.  This  gentleman  John  Fitch  visited  after  he 
left  France,  and  he  remained  at  his  house  in  London 
some  time  previous  to  his  departure  for  the  United 
States.  Here  he  was  seen  by  Miss  Eliza  Leslie,  the 
authoress,  who  yet  cherishes  a  lively  memory  of  the 
singular  man.1  Whilst  in  London,  John  Fitch  pub- 
lished a  little  pamphlet  bearing  the  following  title : 

1  Mr.  Leslie  was  a  Scotsman,  who  came  to  Philadelphia  in 
1745.  He  was  the  father  of  Charles  R.  Leslie,  the  artist,  Major 
T.  J.  Leslie,  United  States  Army,  and  Miss  Eliza  Leslie.  He 
remained  in  London  as  resident  partner  in  England  of  the  firm, 
of  Leslie  and  Price,  watch  and  clock  makers,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  R.  Leslie  and  Co.,  of  Baltimore.  Isaac  Price  died  in  1788 
or  1789,  and  the  firm  was  dissolved.  Mr.  Leslie  returned  to  Phi- 
ladelphia in  1799  or  1800,  and  died  there  in  1803. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  359 

"An  Explanation  for  keeping  a  ship's  traverse  at 
sea  by  the  Columbian  Ready  Reckoner.  By  John 
Fitch.  London :  printed  for  and  published  by  the 
author.  1793." 

It  was  dedicated  to  Dr.  William  Thornton.  In  his 
introductory  remarks,  he  says, 

"Altho  I  never  turned  my  attention  to  navigation  no  further 
than  to  learn  the  theory,  yet,  in  crossing  the  Atlantick  I  saw  on 
board  the  packet  a  round  board,  •with  the  points  of  the  compass 
cut  on  it,  and  holes  in  the  points.  I  further  observed  that  when 
they  had  run  one  hour  they  put  a  peg  into  the  point  they  had 
just  run. 

"  This  gave  me  an  Idea  that  something  more  perfect  might  be 
made  ;  in  consequence  of  which,  I  went  to  work  and  formed  the 
enclosed  plate  ;  which,  as  it  appears  to  me,  will  reduce  the  art 
of  navigation  to  the  comprehension  of  the  smallest  capacity, 
and  simplify  it  in  such  a  manner  as  to  save  the  masters  of  ves- 
sels much  trouble  in  their  reckonings. 

"I  have  in  this  endeavoured  to  bring  the  art  of  navigation 
into  one  focal  point ;  also  to  make  it  easy  to  those  who  look  upon 
calculations  as  a  burthen.  I  do  not  think  it  absolutely  neces- 
sary that  masters  of  vessels  should  be  obliged  to  study  geomet- 
rical propositions,  problems,  drawing  of  lines,  angles,  and 
curves,  or  to  teaze  themselves  with  logarithms,  signs,  tangents, 
:md  trigonometry,  altho  it  would  be  very  convenient  for  them  to 
know  them,  but  that  it  is  sufficient  for  them  to  know  these 
things  to  be  so ;  also,  that  the  lines  and  angles  pointed  out  by 
these  figures  are  more  accurate  than  any  drawn  with  a  ruler. 
I  therefore  trust  that  all  questions  necessary  for  keeping  a 
ship's  traverse  can  be  resolved  by  this  method,  and  most  of  them 
in  much  less  time  than  in  the  common  way  now  practised.  I 
presume  that  this  could  be  learned  by  a  moderate  genius,  con- 
versant with  figures,  in  six  hours'  teaching,  and  a  very  mode- 
rate share  of  common  arithmetick  will  be  fully  sufficient  for 
this  method  of  navigation." 


360  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

He  thougnt  that  if  seamen  would  learn  it  the  know- 
ledge would  raise  them  socially,  and  that  they  would 
then  have  more  respect  for  themselves.  In  reference 
to  this  view  of  the  case,  he  remarks, 

"  It  has  been  observed  by  some  masters  of  vessels,  that  it 
•would  not  be  attended  with  good  consequences  to  make  every 
man  that  followeth  the  sea  a  navigator,  as  it  would  be  a  means 
of  destroying  the  subordination  so  very  necessary  to  be  kept  on 
board. 

"  To  which  I  beg  leave  to  observe  that,  in  my  opinion,  it 
•would  have  a  very  different  effect,  for  the  following  reasons: 
"  1st.  Men  of  no  ambition  are  never  to  be  feared  in  any  plot 

or  mutiny  without  ambitious  leaders. 

"  2nd.  Men  of  an  ambitious  turn,  who  may  have  a  prospect 
for  an  honorable  command,  undoubtedly  would  be  cautious 
of  setting  such  an  example,  which  would  have  a  tendency 
to  destroy  their  views  to  advancement ;  but  if  after  good 
conduct  they  should  attain  what  they  are  aiming  at,  that 
would  become  a  presedent  at  a  future  day  to  those  under 
their  command." 

The  explanation  referred  to  an  engraved  card,  on 
which  there  were  four  tables,  containing  calculations 
and  figures.  The  body  of  the  pamphlet  contained  di- 
rections how  to  work  a  traverse,  mark  directions,  etc., 
according  to  the  tables. 

In  1794,  John  Fitch  returned  to  the  United  States, 
working  his  passage  as  a  common  sailor.  He  landed 
at  Boston  in  a  state  of  destitution.  He  found  his  way 
to  Connecticut,  where  he  saw  his  sister,  Mrs.  King, 
and  his  daughter  Lucy,  Mrs.  Kilbourne;  but  there 
was  no  reconciliation  between  himself  and  his  wife. 

He  remained  with  his  brother-in-law,  Timothy  King, 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  361 

at  East  Windsor,  for  nearly  two  years,  and  then  deter- 
mined to  seek  his  lands  in  Kentucky.1 

It  is  conjectured  that  at  this  time  some  overtures 
were  made  to  him  by  Chancellor  Livingston,  whose 
interest  in  steam  navigation  was  even  at  that  early 
day  exceedingly  strong. 

Mr.  John  Hutchings,  a  native  of  New  York,  says 
(see  Documentary  History  of  New  York,  2d  Vol., 
1047)  that  in  the  summer  of  1796  or  '7,  he,  being  then 
a  lad,  assisted  Mr.  Fitch  in  steering  a  steam-boat,  and 
otherwise  aiding  in  the  working  of  the  machinery.  The 
boat  was  navigated  upon  "the  Collect,"  a  large  pond 
of  fresh  water,  since  filled  up,  on  a  portion  of  the  site 
of  which  is  now  built  the  City  ("Tombs")  Prison. 
Mr.  Hutchings  says,  further,  that  Robert  Fulton2  and 
Robert  R.  Livingston  were  upon  the  boat  several 
times  when  it  was  worked  by  steam,  and  that  Mr.  Fitch 
explained  to  them  the  modus  operandi  of  the  ma- 
chinery. 

"  Mr.  Fitch  remarked  to  Mr.  Fulton,  that  in  a  former  experi- 
ment paddle  wheels  splashed  too  much,  and  could  not  be  used 
in  Canal  navigation.  No  one  at  that  time  thought  of  having 
them  covered  with  boxes.  They  had  no  doubt  but  that  the  boat 
might  be  propelled  six  miles  an  hour,  though  then  making  some- 

1  Longstreth.     Whittlesey  (Sparks),  page  144. 

2  Mr.  Hutchings  is  manifestly  in  error  in  supposing  that  one 
of  the  persons  then  upon  Fitch's  boat  was  Robert  Fulton.     The 
latter  was  at  that  time  in  England.     Robert  R.  Livingston  was, 
however,  in  New  York,  and  was  probably  present.     As  there 
seems  to  have  been  two  strangers  at  the  trial,  Mr.  H.  may  have 
been  misled  into  supposing  that  Fulton  was  one  of  them  by  the 
fact  that  subsequently  Livingston  and  Fulton  were  connected  in 
steam-boat  experiments. 

31 


362  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

thing  less.  The  steam  was  sufficiently  high  to  propel  the  boat 
once,  twice,  or  thrice  around  the  pond ;  when,  more  water  being 
introduced  into  the  boiler  or  pot,  and  steam  generated,  she  was 
again  ready  to  start  on  another  expedition." 


John  Fitch's  Screw-propeller  Steam-boat  on  the  Collect,  New  York,  1796. 

This  boat  was  propelled  by  a  screw  propeller.  The 
boiler  was  a  ten  or  twelve-gallon  iron  pot,  with  a  lid 
of  truck-plank,  firmly  fastened  to  it  by  an  iron  bar 
placed  transversely.  The  boat  was  a  ship's  yawl, 
steered  by  an  oar. 

"  The  cylinder  was  of  wood,  barrel  shaped  on  the  outside,  and 
strongly  hooped,  being  straight  on  the  inside.  The  main  steam 
pipe  led  directly  from  the  boiler"  top  into  a  copper  box,  receiver, 
or  valve  box,  about  six  inches  square.  The  leading  pipes  led 
separately  into  the  bottom  or  base  of  the  one  short  cylinder  and 
the  longer  one,  and  each  piston  rod  was  attached  to  the  extre- 
mity of  the  working  beam.  This  beam  was  supported  by  an 
iron  upright;  the  connecting  rod  was  so  arranged  as  to  turn  the 
crank  of  the  propelling  shaft,  which  passed  horizontally  through 
the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  was  made  fast  to  the  propeller  or 
screw.  The  valves  were  worked  by  a  simple  contrivance  at- 
tached likewise  to  the  working  beam." 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  363 

General  Anthony  Lamb  and  William  H.  Westlock, 
City  Surveyor,  of  New  York,  both  certified  in  1846  to 
the  truth  of  Mr.  Hutchings'  statement,  and  declared 
that  they  themselves  had  seen  the  boat  moved  by  steam 
on  the  Collect  as  early  as  1796. 

From  New  York  Fitch  came  again  to  Philadelphia, 
•where  he  renewed  his  acquaintance  with  his  friends. 
Whilst  there  he  visited  Oliver  Evans,  whose  interest 
in  the  steam-engine  was  shown  in  many  subsequent 
improvements  upon  that  machine.  In  the  course  of  the 
conversation,  the  steam-boat  affair  was  mentioned,  and 
Fitch  divulged  his  hopes  that  he  would  yet  be  able  to 
form  a  company  to  build  boats  in  Kentucky.  Mr. 
Evans  relates  these  facts  in  a  deposition  or  affidavit 
made  December  16,  1814.  The  language  used  is  as 
follows : 

"  When  the  said  John  Fitch  was  afterward  setting  out  for  the 
western  country,  he  called  on  the  said  Oliver,  at  his  house,  and 
declared  his  intention  to  be,  to  form  a  Company  to  establish 
steamboats  on  the  western  waters;  of  the  advantages  of  which, 
he  appeared  to  have  some  vast  conceptions  and  great  expecta- 
tions." ' 

From  Philadelphia  John  Fitch  went  to  Kentucky ; 
where,  from  the  coldness  of  the  people  toward  his  pro- 
ject, he  soon  found  that  his  hopes  of  establishing  his 
invention  on  the  Western  waters  were  to  be  disappointed 
as  all  previous  expectations  had  been.  He  found  his 
lands  overrun  with  squatters,  and  he  commenced  seve- 
ral law-suits  to  dispossess  the  intruders.2  In  reference 
to  his  residence  there,  the  Hon.  Robert  Wickliffe,  of 

1  Duer's  second  letter  to  Golden,  Appendix. 
z  Whittlesey,  page  145. 


364  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Kentucky,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  in  Philadelphia  who 
addressed  him  on  behalf  of  the  writer  of  these  pages, 
furnished  the  following  interesting  particulars,  under 
date  of  Lexington,  November  12,  1855 : 

"  I  remember  to  have  seen  John  Fitch  during  his  residence  in 
Bardstown,  Kentucky,  but  had  no  particular  acquaintance  with 
him  personally.  He  was  pretty  far  advanced  in  life  and  intem- 
perance when  I  first  saw  him,  and  he  was  then  residing  in  the 
house  of  Alexander  M'Conn,  a  tavern  keeper,  in  Bardstown, 
where  he  continued  to  live  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  I 
had  at  my  Father's  house,  when  a  youth,  the  controversy  be- 
tween John  Fitch  and  James  Rumsey,  as  to  their  respective 
claims  to  the  title  of  discoverer  of  the  art  of  navigating  rivers 
through  the  agency  of  steam,  and  I  formed  an  opinion  decidedly 
in  favour  of  Fitch  over  Rumsey's  claim.  That  circumstance, 
together  with  the  rumour  that  he  was  the  discoverer,  induced 
me  to  inquire  into  the  private  history  and  life  of  John  Fitch. 
*  *  *  *  *  * 

"Before  he  reached  his  land  it  had  been  seated  and  possessed 
by  adverse  claimants.  He  brought  suits  against  the  trespassers, 
and  after  long  and  protracted  controversies,  was  successful. 
Those  who  were  intimate  with  him  assure  me  of  their  belief  that 
Fitch's  profound  mortification  in  being  compelled  to  abandon 
his  steamboat  discoveries,  and  the  new  difficulties  and  legal 
controversies  about  his  land  titles,  broke  down  his  spirits  and 
disgusted  him  with  life.  McConn  has  often  given  me  an  ac- 
count of  bis  habits  and  conversations  during  the  years  he  lived 
with  him.  In  particular,  he  informed  me  that  it  was  the  con- 
stant burden  of  his  conversation  when  free  from  intoxication, 
that  he  should  descend  to  the  grave  poor  and  pennyless,  but 
should  leave  in  his  discoveries  a  legacy  to  his  country  that  would 
make  her  rich.  McConn  further  informed  me,  that  when  Fitch 
came  to  his  house  to  get  boarding  he  appeared  to  be  in  perfect 
health ;  but  he  told  him  he  did  not  expect  or  desire  to  live  long, 
and  wanted  him  to  board  him  during  his  life.  He  said  he  would 
give  him  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  his  land,  but  he  must, 
over  and  above  the  ordinary  fare  of  the  tavern,  allow  him  a  pint 


LIF  EOF    JOHN    FITCH.  365 

of  whiskey  a  day.  The  bargain  was  struck,  and  Fitch  executed 
his  bond  for  the  land.  Under  that  contract,  Fitch  boarded  with 
him  some  time  —  how  long,  I  forget.  One  day,  Fitch  said  to 
McConn,  '  I  am  not  getting  off  fast  enough  ;  you  must  add  ano- 
ther pint,  and  here  is  your  bond  for  another  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  of  land.'  Both  of  these  bonds  McConn  showed  me, 
and  got  me  to  read  them.  Fitch  continued  to  live  with  McConn, 
as  I  have  before  stated,  until  his  death ;  when  McConn  caused 
him  to  be  decently  interred  in  the  public  burying-place  at  Bards- 
town. 

*•*#*## 

"  Poor  McConn's  house,  with  the  bonds  in  it,  was  burnt  up,  and 
he  was  reduced  to  poverty.  In  a  suit  against  the  devisees  of 
Fitch,  he  was  only  able  to  establish  one  of  the  bonds,  and  he  got 
but  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres.  Many  years  ago,  when  I  was 
a  member  of  the  Legislature,  I  visited  Bardstown,  called  upon 
McConn,  and  asked  him  to  designate  the  grave  of  Fitch  by 
Borne  stone,  or  other  sign ;  and  I  asked  him  to  show  it  to  some 
of  the  young  citizens  of  the  town,  which  he  promised  to  do,  and 
I  understood  that  he  did  do  so.  At  the  approaching  Legisla- 
ture, I  introduced  a  resolution  into  the  Senate,  of  which  I  was 
then  a  member,  briefly  reciting  the  character  of  Fitch,  and  his 
claims  upon  posterity,  and  providing  that  Commissioners  should 
erect  some  monumental  evidence  upon  his  grave. 

"  Whilst  the  resolution  was  pending,  I  heard  that  a  young 
gentleman  of  some  talent,  and  a  grandson  of  James  Rumsey, 
was  a  member  of  the  lower  house,  and  had  expressed  a  deter- 
mination to  resist  the  passage  of  the  resolution,  on  the  ground 
that  his  grandfather,  and  not  Fitch,  was  the  discoverer  of  the 
steamboat.  I  thought  it  best  not  to  press  the  matter  further, 
intending  at  some  other  time  to  take  it  up. 

"  I  will  now  add — with  a  view  to  embody  all  I  know  of  Fitch, 
from  information  or  otherwise,  than  can  be  considered  as  con- 
necting him  with  the  West  —  some  information  I  received  from 
the  Hon.  John  Brown,  long  a  member  of  Congress,  both  in  the 
lower  house  and  in  the  Senate. 

"  Mr.  Brown  was  present,  and  saw  the  experiments  made  by 
Fitch  upon  his  boat  upon  the  Delaware.    He  saw  him  make  two 
31* 


368  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

efforts  to  run  from  Philadelphia  to  Bordentown,  and  on  each 
trip  some  of  the  machinery  gave  way.  A  few  days  after  the 
last  failure,  a  gentleman  entered  his  room,  in  a  boarding  house 
in  Philadelphia,  and  introduced  himself  as  'John  Fitch,  inventor 
of  steamboats/  Mr.  Brown  asked  him  to  be  seated.  As  soon  as 
be  took  his  seat,  he  informed  him  that  at  a  very  early  period, 
when  his  (Brown's)  district  was  a  wilderness,  he  had  visited 
Kentucky  ;  and  I  think  Brown  stated  that  Fitch  said,  while 
engaged  in  surveying  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  River,  that  he 
took  his  seat,  and  for  some  time  contemplated  that  beautiful 
river,  it  then  rolling  a  full  tide  towards  the  Ocean,  and  reflecting 
upon  its  immense  length  from  its  head  to  the  Ocean.  He  thought 
it  impossible  God  had  in  his  wisdom  created  a  river  with  such 
length  and  -irresistible  current,  without  giving  to  man  some 
power  of  overcoming  the  force  of  the  water,  and  being  able  to 
navigate  it  up  as  well  as  down. 

****** 
"  He  stated  that  he  had  built  a  vessel,  or  vessels,  to  give  prac- 
tical proof  to  the  world  of  the  value  of  his  invention  ;  that  the 
machinery  of  his  boat,  or  boats,  required  some  change  or  amend- 
ment, to  satisfy  the  world  that  steamboats  could  and  would  navi- 
gate our  rivers  against  their  currents.  This,  his  discovery, 
•would  be  of  peculiar  and  immense  advantage  to  Mr.  Brown's 
district,  of  Kentucky.  He  (Fitch)  was  without  means  or  re- 
sources, and  wanted  about  Four  Hundred  Dollars,  and  had 
called  upon  Mr.  Brown,  as  a  member  of  Congress  from  Ken- 
tucky, to  advance  him  that  sum.  Mr.  Brown  replied  that  it 
was  not  convenient —  that  he  had  not  the  money  to  spare  him. 
Mr.  Fitch,  rising  from  his  seat,  said  to  Mr.  Brown,  '  Well,  sir, 
if  you  will  not  advance  me  the  money,  I  wTill  go  to  the  Secretary 
of  State's  office,  and  cause  it  to  be  entered,  that  it  may  remain 
res  perpetua  memoria,  that  I,  John  Fitch,  inventor  of  steam- 
boats, having  exhausted  all  my  means  in  carrying  my  invention 
into  perfection,  needed  Four  Hundred  Dollars  to  complete  my 
•work,  and  give  evidence  to  the  world  of  its  value  and  utility ; 
that  I  called  upon  you,  John  Brown,  member  of  Congress  from 
the  Kentucky  district,  in  the  State  of  Virginia,  to  loan  me  Four 
Hundred  Dollars,  to  complete  my  machinery,  and  give  unan- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  367 

swerable  evidence  of  the  utility  and  importance  of  my  inven- 
tion, and  that  you  refused  it.'  Mr.  Brown  said,  '  You  may  do 
so,  Mr.  Fitch,  if  you  please.'  Fitch  then  said,  'Good  morning, 
Mr.  Brown,  member  of  Congress  from  Kentucky  district,'  and 
Mr.  Brown  replied,  '  Good  morning,  Mr.  Fitch,  inventor  of 
steamboats.'  Mr.  Brown  never  saw  Fitch  again.  I  asked  him 
if  he  had  ever  made  examination  for  such  entry ;  he  said  he 
never  had.  There  were  once  afloat  many  anecdotes  about  what 
Fitch  did  or  said  in  Bardstown.  I  do  not  think  them  worth 
notice." 

In  answer  to  inquiries  addressed  to  the  Hon.  Na- 
thaniel Wickliffe,  of  Bardstown,  Kentucky,  he  wrote, 
September  13,  1855,  as  follows : 

"I  regret  that  I  can  give  you  little  information  about  John 
Fitch.  He  died  a  few  years  before  I  settled  in  this  place  (Bards- 
town). He  died  at  the  house  of  Alexander  McConn,  in  this 
place.  His  will  is  dated  June  25th,  1798,  and  it  was  ordered  to 
record  the  18th  day  of  July,  1798.  He  appears  to  have  owned 
but  little  estate  at  his  death.  James  Nourse  and  John  Rowan 
were  his  principal  devisees.  They  are  dead,  as  also  those  who 
resided  here  at  the  time  Mr.  Fitch  was  living.  He  was  buried 
in  the  public  burying  ground,  and  until  within  twelve  months 
it  was  not  known  where  his  grave  was.  It  was  then  found,  and 
is  so  described  by  some  of  the  citizens,  by  writings  filed  with 
his  will,  that  hereafter  it  can  be  found." 

Whilst  in  Kentucky,  the  steam-boat  still  amused  the 
idle  hours  of  John  Fitch. 

"  When  his  health  would  allow  of  moderate  exercise,  he 
wrought  upon  a  model  boat,  about  three  feet  in  length,  at  the 
shop  of  Mr.  Howell.  Its  machinery  was  constructed  of  brass. 
This  model  boat  had  wheels,  and  has  been  seen  floating  in  a 
small  stream  near  the  village,  by  persons  now  living.  It  was 
burnt  in  McConn's  tavern,  in  1805,  Nelson  County,  Kentucky."1 

1  Whittlesey.     Sparks'  American  Biography. 


8G8  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


Fitch's  Model  Steamboat,  Bardstown,  Kentucky,  1797-8. 

In  reference  to  this  presumed  destruction  of  the 
model,  there  may  be  some  mistake.  It  was  very  na- 
tural for  many  to  suppose  that  in  the  fire  it  was  con- 
sumed. The  St.  Louis  Democrat  of  October,  1854, 
published  an  account  of  a  model  of  Fitch's  boat  which 
was  then  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  James  II.  Me  Cord, 
United  States  Local  Inspector  for  the  port  of  St.  Louis. 
We  subjoin  some  extracts  from  that  article  : 

"Mr.  McCord  has  in  bis  possession  the  original  model  of  the 
engine  and  boiler  constructed  by  the  hands  of  John  Fitch,  about 
the  year  1790  [tjuere,  1797],  and  by  him  applied  to  the  propel- 
ling of  boats.  And  indeed,  as  appears  from  the  model  in  ques- 
tion, it  is  evident  that  Mr.  Fitch  had  also  conceived  the  idea  of 
a  railway  car,  and  reduced  it  to  practical  operation,  too ;  but 
that  in  his  efforts  to  bring  forth  the  steamboat,  the  latter  was 
neglected.  This  model  rests  on  a  model  railway  car,  con- 
structed by  him,  embracing  all  the  essential  requisites  of  the 
present  railway  car,  such  as  a  flange  on  the  rim,  just  as  we 
have  it  now,  used  for  a  guide  to  keep  the  wheel  on  the  track ; 
also  the  frame  work  outside  the  wheels,  as  our  cars  were  at 
first  constructed.  It  was  evidently  thus  arranged  for  the 
purpose  of  exhibiting  the  power  of  steam  in  propelling  boats, 
and  was  constructed  on  a  railway  immersed  in  a  trough 
of  the  proper  depth  for  the  paddles  to  strike  the  water,  and 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  369 

when  the  motion  was  given,  the  wheels  would  guide  it  along  the 
submerged  railway. 

****** 

"  Mr.  McCord  has  procured  this  model  from  Mr.  C.  M.  Scott, 
of  our  city,  whose  lady  is  a  distant  relative  of  the  family  of 
Mr.  Fitch.  During  a  recent  visit  to  Ohio,  Mr.  Scott  procured  it 
from  Isaac  N.  Whiting,  Esq.,  whose  wife  is  a  daughter  of  the 
late  Col.  Kilbourne,  of  that  State,  and  grand-daughter  of  John 
Fitch  ;  so  there  is  no  doubt  of  the  identity  of  the  original  model 
upon  which  the  great  mind  of  Fitch  expended  its  energies ;  the 
result  of  whose  labors  was  the  application  of  the  wonderful 
agent,  steam,  to  practical  purposes. 

"  This  interesting  relic  has  been  placed  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
McCord,  with  the  promise  that  it  shall  remain  in  our  city  in  the 
event  that  a  Mechanics'  Institute  is  established  amongst  us; 
otherwise,  it  will  be  deposited  in  Cincinnati." 

If  this  statement  is  correct,  the  model  is  most  pro- 
bably that  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Whittlesey,  and  may 
have  come  into  the  possession  of  the  devisees  of  Fitch, 
who,  it  is  likely,  handed  it  over  to  the  Kilbourne  family, 
whose  descent  from  the  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy 
Fitch  is  undoubted. 

Some  time  between  the  25th  of  June  and  the  18th 
of  July,  1798,  this  unhappy  man,  weary  of  the  world, 
disappointed  in  all  his  expectations,  yet  most  honestly 
believing  in  the  correctness  of  the  darling  dream  of 
his  life,  died  at  Bardstown,  Kentucky. 

He  had  been  "a  drinking  man  "  while  in  the  West, 
but  it  is  believed  he  was  not  a  drunkard.  Indulgence 
in  ardent  spirits  to  some  extent  was  at  that  day  uni- 
versal. Fitch  may  have  exceeded  in  his  potations  the 
usual  limits  within  which  others,  who  had  fewer  trou- 
bles, restrained  themselves,  but,  unless  it  might  be  in 
the  enervation  of  mind  caused  by  constant  use  of  the 


370  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

bottle,  he  was  not  a  severe  sufferer  by  strong  drink. 
He  ended  his  life  by  suicide.  He  had  been  sick  for 
a  few  days,  and  his  physician  prescribed  anodynes. 
Instead  of  taking  these  as  directed,  the  unfortunate 
man  kept  the  medicine  until  he  saved  twelve  opium 
pills.  These  he  swallowed  at  once,  and  so,  in  slumber, 
passed  out  of  what,  to  him,  had  been  a  troublesome 
existence. 

His  will  was  as  follows  : 

I  John  Fitch,  of  the  County  of  Nelson,  do  make  this  my  last 
"Will  and  Testament : 

To  William  Rowan,  my  trusty  friend,  I  bequeath  my  Beaver 
Hat,  Shoe,  Knee,  and  Stock  Buckles,  Walking  Stick,  and  spec- 
tacles. To  Dr.  William  Thornton,  in  the  City  of  Washington, 
in  the  District  of  Columbia — To  Eliza  Vale,  Daughter  of  Aaron 
Vale,  Consul  of  the  United  States  at  L'Orient — To  John  Rowan, 
Esq.,  of  Bardstown,  Son  of  said  William  Rowan,  and  to  James 
Nourse,  of  said  town,  I  bequeath  all  the  rest  of  my  Estate,  Real 
and  Personal,  to  be  divided  amongst  them,  share  and  share 
alike.  And  I  appoint  the  said  John  Rowan,  Esq.,  and  James 
Nourse,  Esq.,  my  Executors  ;  and  the  Legacy  hereby  bequeathed 
to  them,  my  said  Executors,  is  in  consideration  of  their  accept- 
ing the  Executorship,  and  bringing  to  a  final  close  all  suits  at 
Law,  and  attending  to  the  business  of  the  Estate  hereby  be- 
queathed. Hereby  declaring  this  to  be  my  last  Will  and  Tes- 
tament, this  twenty  fifth  day  of  June,  One  thousand  seven  hun- 
dred and  Ninety  Eight,  Witness  my  Hand  and  Seal. 

JOHN  FITCH.     [Seal.] 
Acknowledged,  Signed,  and 
Sealed,  in  presence  of 

James  Nourse, 
Mich1  Reutch, 

her 
Susannah  X  McCowan. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  371 

At  a  County  Court  held  for  Nelson  County,  the  18th  day  of 
July,  1798, 

This  last  Will  and  Testament  of  John  Fitch,  deceased,  was 
produced  in  Court,  by  James  Nourse,  one  of  the  Executors 
therein  named,  and  proved  by  the  oaths  of  Michael  Reutch  and 
Susannah  McCown,  subscribing  •witnesses  thereto,  to  be  the  act 
of  the  said  Fitch,  and  ordered  to  be  recorded. 
Teste,  - 

Ben.  Grayson,  C.  Court. 

At  a  County  Court  held  for  Nelson  County,  on  Tuesday,  the 
14th  day  of  August,  1798,  This  last  will  and  Testament  of  John 
Fitch,  deceased,  was  sworn  to  by  John  Rowan  and  James 
Nourse,  Executors  therein  named,  and  ordered  to  be  certified. 

Att.  Ben.  Grayson,  C.  Co. 

Mr.  Daniel  Longstreth,  of  Bucks  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, succeeded  in  enlisting  the  warm  interest  of  John 
F.  Watson,  of  Germantown,  in  the  fate  of  John  Fitch. 
Upon  learning  where  he  was  buried,  Mr.  Watson  de- 
sired to  have  his  remains  removed  to  Laurel  Hill  Ce- 
metery, near  Philadelphia ;  where  he  proposed  to  erect 
over  them  a  monument,  having  the  following  inscrip- 
tion: 

His  darling  wish  (he  said)  was  to  be  buried 

On  the  margin  of  the  Ohio ; 
Where  the  song  of  the  boatman  might  penetrate 

The  stillness  of  his  resting-place, 
And  where  the  sound  of  the  steam-engine 

Might  send  its  echoes  abroad. 
Nihil  mihi  optatius  accidere  poterat. 

"Another  inscription,  with  like  fitness,  might  be  in- 
scribed on  the .  other  side  of  his  monument,  equally 
forcible,  from  his  own  pen,  to  wit :" 


372  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

While  living,  he  declared, 

"  This  will  be  the  mode  of  crossing  the  Atlantic  in  time, 
Whether  I  shall  bring  it  to  perfection  or  not." 

"  Steamboats  will  be  preferred  to  all  other  conveyances ; 

And  they  will  be  particularly  useful 
In  the  navigation  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi." 

"  The  day  will  come  when  some  more  potent  man 
Will  get  fame  and  riches  for  my  invention."  ' 

The  proposition  of  Mr.  Watson  was  interfered  with 
by  sundry  gentlemen  of  Kentucky,  who  promised  that 
they  would  unite  in  measures  to  have  the  remains  de- 
posited under  a  monument  on  the  margin  of  the  River 
Ohio,  below  Louisville.  Years  have  gone  by  since 
that  promise  was  made,  and  it  has  not  yet  been  per- 
formed. He  sleeps  in  the  graveyard  at  Bardstown. 
For  many  years  there  was  not  a  stone  to  mark  his 
resting-place.  Lately,  the  people  of  Bardstown  have 
taken  some  pains  to  identify  the  grave  of  the  unfor- 
tunate pioneer,  who  explored  their  lands  ere  Civiliza- 
tion took  her  seat.  After  the  spot  was  identified,  as 
mentioned  by  the  Hon.  Nathaniel  Wickliffe,  a  rough, 
unhewn,  unlettered  stone,  was  placed  upon  it  as  a  me- 
morial. This,  perhaps,  is  a  fitting  monument  for 
genius  and  misfortune,  neglected  in  life  and  unhonored 
in  death. 

>  Watson's  Annals  of  Philadelphia,  Vol.  I.,  p.  593. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  373 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

STEAM-BOAT    EXPERIMENTS  IN   EUROPE    AND   AMERICA. 

OUR  task  would  not  be  complete  were  we  to  omit 
some  reference  to  numerous  attempts  to  navigate 
steam-boats  in  Europe  and  America,  and  particularly 
to  the  manner  in  which  the  biographers  of  Robert 
Fulton  have  endeavored  to  conceal  the  real  merit  of 
Fitch  in  building  and  successfully  navigating  such 
vessels. 

James  Rumsey  went  to  England  in  May,  1788, 
having  been  sent  thither  by  the  Rumseian  Society,  to 
procure  patents  in  that  country,  if  possible.  His 
steam-boat,  which  was  tried  at  Shepherdstown  in  De- 
cember, 1787,  made  no  more  than  the  short  experi- 
mental trips,  which  demonstrated  that  a  boat  might  be 
moved  by  steam.  For  some  reason,  —  most  probably 
because  the  projector  thought  it  too  imperfect  in  the 
machinery  to  be  of  utility,  —  it  was  then  abandoned. 
The  first  successful  steam-boat  trips  in  the  world  by 
which  passengers  and  freight  were  carried,  were  made 
on  the  Delaware,  in  1787,  1788,  1789,  and  more  par- 
ticularly in  1790,  when  Fitch's  boat  ran  as  a  regular 
packet. 

In  England  Rumsey  met  with  patrons,  and  it  was 
determined  to  build  a  steam-boat  on  his  plan.  Before 
the  work  was  completed,  Rumsey  fell  from  his  chair  in 
32 


374  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

an  apoplexy,  and  died.1  His  associates  completed  the 
vessel,  and  it  was  tried  on  the  Thames,  and  moved 
successfully,  in  February,  1793.2  For  some  reason, 
"not  now  known,  the  project  was  then  abandoned. 

There  had  been  several  patents  taken  out  in  Eng- 
land, previous  to  that  time,  for  inventions  in  propelling 
boats,  but  the  specifications  were  generally  mysterious 
and  vague,  and  it  is  impossible  to  know  with  certainty 
whether  the  claimants  intended  to  rely  upon  steam.3 
In  1578,  Bourne  obtained  a  patent  for  a  boat  to  be 

1  Underwood's  Report  to  Congress,  Session  of  1836-7,  Jfo. 
317. 

"Mr.  Ramsey,  of  Maryland,  who  has  distinguished  himself 
by  several  useful  mechanical  inventions,  and  latterly  by  being 
employed  in  propelling  vessels  by  the  force  of  steam,  died  on 
the  24th  of  Dec.  last,  in  London,  in  a  sudden  manner." — Bache's 
General  Advertiser,  Philadelphia,  March  5,  1793. 

2  Woodcraft's  History  of  Early  Steam  Navigation.     Mr.  W. 
Bays  that  Ramsey's  principal  patron  was  a  wealthy  American 
merchant  of  London. 

"LONDON,  Feb.  16,  1793.  —  The  vessel  of  the  late  lamented 
Mr.  Rumsey,  to  sail  against  wind  and  tide,  has  lately  been  tried, 
and  was  found  to  sail  four  knots  an  hour.' ' —  Bache's  General 
Advertiser,  April  13,  1793.  A  particular  description  of  the  ma- 
chinery is  also  given;  but  as  it  does  not  differ  materially  from 
that  in  his  American  boat  of  December,  1787,  it  is  unnecessary 
to  copy  it. 

8  A  story  to  the  effect  that,  in  1543,  one  Blanco  De  Garay  pro- 
pelled a  vessel  by  steam  in  the  harbor  of  Barcelona,  has  made 
its  appearance  within  a  few  years.  It  was  never  promulgated 
until  after  steam-boats  had  become  common  in  Europe  and  Ame- 
rica. To  account  for  this  fact,  it  is  alleged  that  the  information 
was  concealed  in  the  archives  at  Simancas.  The  best-informed 
•writers  upon  steam-engines  and  machinery  believe  the  entire 
story  to  be  a  fabrication. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  375 

propelled  by  means  of  wheels  at  the  sides.  David 
Ramsay,  in  1630,  procured  letters  for  a  method  of 
making  ships  and  barges  to  go  against  wind  and  tide. 
Other  secured  rights  were  obtained  for  methods  of  pro- 
pelling boats,  by  Thomas  Grent,  in  1632,  Francis  Lin, 
in  163T,  Edward  Ford,  1640,  the  Marquis  of  Worces- 
ter, 1667,  and  Thomas  Toogood,  for  forcing  water  out 
of  the  stern  of  a  vessel  by  a  bellows,  1661.  In  1682, 
a  horse-boat,  moved  by  wheels  at  the  side,  was  tried  at 
Chatham,  and  used  as  a  tow-boat.  In  1730,  Dr.  John 
Alien  proposed  to  move  a  boat  by  pumping  in  water 
and  ejecting  it  from  the  stern,  and  suggested  a  steam- 
engine  for  the  purpose.  Rumsey's  boat  seems  to  have 
been  precisely  the  same.  Jonathan  Hulls  produced 
the  first  specific  plan  for  navigating  a  tow-boat  by 
steam  in  1736.  It  was  to  be  moved  by  paddle-wheels, 
and  Hulls  had  a  scheme  for  converting  a  reciprocating 
rectilinear  motion  into  a  rotary  one,  by  fixing  two 
cranks  to  the  hindmost  axis,  to  which  were  to  be  af- 
fixed two  shafts  or  poles,  of  proper  length,  to  reach  to 
the  bottom  of  the  river.  These  were  to  be  moved 
alternately  forward  by  the  motion  of  the  wheels,  by 
which  the  vessel  was  to  be  carried  on,  so  that  the  cranks 
received  the  rotary  motion  from  the  axis,  which  latter 
did  not  impart  it.1  It  does  not  appear  that  any  boat 
was  ever  built  by  Hulls.  He  was  merely  a  projector. 
All  these  plans  were  rendered  inoperative  by  the  ignor- 
ance of  the  parties  as  to  the  means  of  converting  the 
rectilinear  into  a  continued  circular  motion. 

1  For  an  account  of  this  and  the  other  inventions  mentioned 
in  the  foregoing  paragraph,  see  Woodcroft's  History  of  Early 
Steam  Navigation. 


376  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

James  "Watt,  in  1769,  first  discovered  a  means  of 
making  the  steam  act  above  the  piston  as  well  as  below, 
and  this  double  action  rendered  the  steam-engine  ca- 
pable of  propelling  a  steam-boat.1 

It  is  asserted  that  Count  Auxiron  made  some  expe- 
riments on  the  Seine  in  1774,  aided  by  Perrier,  and 
that  the  latter  repeated  the  trial  the  next  year  with 
more  success.2  In  1782,  De  Jouffroy,  on  the  Saone, 
moved  by  steam  a  boat  one  hundred  and  forty  feet 
long,  which  had  paddle-wheels  on  the  sides.  Beyond 
the  demonstration  of  the  practicability  of  the  plan, 
nothing  was  done  by  this  inventor.2 

Next  to  these  comes  John  Fitch,  who  was  not  satis- 
fied with  mere  experiments,  but  labored  assiduously  at 
Philadelphia,  from  1785  to  1792,  to  demonstrate  the 
extent  to  which  his  invention  might  be  carried.  The 
skiff-boat,  moved  by  the  model  engine  with  three-inch 
cylinder,  in  July,  1786,  was  succeeded  by  the  Iarg0 
boat,  propelled  by  a  twelve-inch  cylinder,  in  August, 
1787.  Passages  were  made  to  and  from  Burlington, 
in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1788,  several  times.  In 
1789,  there  were  more  trials,  but  in  1790  the  machinery 
was  perfect,  and  the  packet  steam-boat  performed  her 
work  promptly,  and  went  from  two  to  three  thousand 
miles,  to  the  comfort  and  accommodation  of  all  who 
patronized  her. 

Whilst  this  ingenious  American  was  industriously 
engaged  in  trying  to  convince  his  countrymen  of  the 
applicability  and  value  of  his  invention,  experiments 
upon  steam-boats  were  being  made  in  Scotland. 

J  Woodcroft. 

2  Stewart's  Anecdotes  of  Steain-engiaes,  p:  283. 


LIFE    OP    JOHN    FITCH.  377 

In  1787,  Patrick  Miller,  of  Dalwinston,  Scotland, 
built  a  boat  to  be  propelled  by  paddle-wheels  at  the 
sides.  He  made  an  experiment  on  the  Frith  of  Forth, 
in  June  of  that  year ;  not  with  a  steam-engine,  how- 
ever, but  by  the  application  of  the  power  of  men,  who 
worked  a  capstan.  Steam  was  suggested  to  him  by 
James  Taylor,  and  William  Symington,  an  ingenious 
young  man,  undertook  to  apply  that  power  as  a  means 
of  propulsion.  About  the  beginning  of  October, 
1788,  two  years  Rafter  Fitch's  first  experiment  on  the 
Delaware,  and  ten  months  after  Rumsey's  boat  was 
propelled  on  the  Potomac,  Miller  and  Symington  put 
in  motion  the  first  steam-boat  which  had  been  built  in 
Great  Britain.  It  was  a  double  pleasure-boat ;  or 
rather  it  was  composed  of  two  boats,  connected  by  a 
flooring,  the  paddle-wheel  working  |n  the  middle.  This 
pioneer  was  made  and  tried  on  a  lake  on  the  estate  of 
Mr.  Miller,  at  Dalwinston.  Encouraged  by  success, 
the  parties  set  to  work  to  build  another  boat,  which 
was  tried  on  the  Forth  and  Clyde  canal,  on  the  26th 
of  December,  1789,  and  moved  at  the  rate  of  seven 
miles  an  hour  in  the  still  water.1 

The  experiment  made  by  Rumsey's  associates  on 
the  Thames,  in  1793,  has  been  spoken  of.  The  Eng- 
lish writers  declare  that  the  first  "  practical  steam- 
boat" built  in  the  Kingdom  was  the  Charlotte  Dundas, 
constructed  by  Symington.  Fitch's  steam-boat  in 
1789  and  '90  was  most  certainly  practical. 

Before  Symington's  boat  had  been  built,  the  United 

1  Woodcroft. 
32* 


378  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


The  Charlotte  Dundu.-,  William  Symington's  Steam-boat — Scotland,  1801. 

States  were  again  distinguished  by  the  successful  labors 
of  a  builder  of  steam-boats. 

In  1790,  Samuel  Morey  began  to  experiment  upon 
steam-boats  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Connecticut  River, 
lie  went  thence  to  New  York,  and  for  three  suc- 
cessive summers  tried  many  plans  of  modifying  steam- 
engines  for  propulsion,  and  in  testing  the  power  of 
propellers.  He  took  his  boat  back  to  Hartford  in 
1793,  and  having  completed  it,  took  it  to  New  York 
the  next  summer.  It  was  propelled  by  a  wheel  at  the 
stern,  at  the  rate  of  five  miles  an  hour.  Chancellor 
Livingston,  Judge  Livingston,  Edward  Livingston, 
John  Stevens,  and  others,  were  on  board  when  it  went 
by  the  force  of  steam  from  the  ferry  at  New  York  to 
Greenwich.  Livingston  offered  to  assist  Morey  if  he 
could  make  the  boat  go  at  the  rate  of  eight  miles  an 
hour.  Perhaps  stimulated  by  that  offer,  Morey  went 
to  the  Delaware,  and,  aided  by  assistance  from  Dr. 


•  LIFE    OF    JO  TIN    FITCH.  379 

Burgess  Allison,  built  a  boat  near  Bordentown,  New 
Jersey,  with  paddle-wheels  at  the  sides.  «'  The  shaft 
moved  across  the  boat  with  a  shackle-bar,  commonly 
so  called,  which  moved  on  the  principle  which  is  now 
[1819]  used  in  the  largest  boats."  This  boat  was 
used  with  perfect  success,  and  in  1797  was  propelled 
to  Philadelphia.1  Want  of  funds  prevented  its  being 
brought  into  public  use. 

In  the  Augusta  [Georgia]  Chronicle,  published  Sep- 
tember 22d,  1792,  William  Longstreet,  of  Augusta, 
announced  that  he  had  invented  a  new  steam-engine, 
of  a  very  simple  construction.  He  believed  that  it 
might  be  advantageously  employed  in  the  propulsion 
of  a  vessel,  but  such  was  the  foolish  prejudice  against 
steam-boats  then  prevalent,  that  he  scarcely  dared  to 
do  more  than  to  hint  the  applicability  of  his  engine  for 
such  a  purpose.  He  said, 

"  Such  is  my  confidence  with  respect  to  the  success  of  this 
machine,  that  I  will  venture  to  aver  that  for  £500  one  may  be 
made,  and  kept  in  repair  four  years,  that  will  be  capable  of 
grinding  one  hundred  and  fifty  bushels  of  grain  per  diiy,  or  saw 
two  thousand  feet  of  inch  boards  in  the  same  time ;  and  I  would 
add,  if  it  was  not  for  fear  of  being  accused  with  a  baloon  or 
steamboat  project,  how  easily  could  I  apply  it  to  boating  !" 

In  1804,  Oliver  Evans,  whose  ingenuity  and  appli- 
cation to  the  improvement  of  the  steam-engine  have 
been  useful  and  honorable  to  his  country,  constructed, 
at  Philadelphia,  a  machine  for  cleaning  out  and  deep- 
ening docks,  which  he  called  the  Erukt&r  Amphibolis. 
Evans  declares  that  he  thought  of  propelling  carriages 

1  Duer's  second  letter  to  Colden,  Appendix. 


380  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

by  steam  as  early  as  1793,  and  of  applying  the  same 
power  to  boats  in  1778  —  certainly  prior  to  1771 ;  but 
as  John  Fitch  had  spent  much  time  and  money  in 
attempting  to  demonstrate  the  invention,  "  he  yielded 
to  him  and  his  associates  all  the  honors  and  profits 
justly  due  them  as  the  original  inventors."  When  the 
Eruktor  was  completed,  Evans  determined  to  show  his 
incredulous  fellow-citizens  that  it  was  possible  to  move 
wagons  on  the  land  and  boats  on  the  water  by  the 
power  of  steam.  The  mud-scow  had  a  steam-engine 
in  it,  of  the  power  of  five  horses. 

"  To  show  that  both  steam  carriages  and  steam  boats  were 
practicable  (with  my  steam  engine),  I  first  put  wheels  to  it, 
and  propelled  it  by  the  engine  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  then 
into  the  Schuylkill,  although  its  weight  was  equal  to  200  bar- 
rels of  flour.  I  then  fixed  a  paddle  wheel  at  the  stern,  and  pro- 
pelled it  by  the  enginfe  down  the  Schuylkill  and  up  the  Dela- 
ware, 16  miles,  leaving  all  the  vessels  that  were  under  sail  full 
halfway  behind  me  (the  wind  being  ahead),  although  the  appli- 
cation was  so  temporary  as  to  produce  great  friction,  and  the 
flat  most  illy  formed  for  sailing ;  done  in  the  presence  of  thou- 
sands."1 

It  is  very  likely  that  Evans  was  induced  to  under- 
take this  remarkable  experiment  in  order  to  convince 
the  world  that  some  of  the  scientific  men  of  the  day 
were  visionary  pretenders.  Scarcely  a  year  previously, 
Benjamin  H.  Latrobe,  whose  name  stood  fair  as  a  phi- 
losopher, had  gone  out  of  his  way  to  pro-nounce  an 
opinion  that  the  navigation  of  steam-boats  to  advantage 
was  an  impossibility.  A  society  in  Rotterdam  had  made 

1  Oliver  Evans  to  the  people  of  the  United  States.  Poulson's 
American  Advertiser,  March  11,  1815. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCII.  381 


Th«  Eruktor  Amphibolis.    Oliver  Evans,  I'hiladelpliia,  1804 

inquiry  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  to  know 
how  many  steam-engines  were  in  use  in  the  United  States. 
Mr.  Latrobe  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Commit- 
tee. He  accomplished  his  task  by  reporting  that  there 
were  six  steam-engines  in  the  country,  but  he  went  on 
to  demonstrate  that  steam-boats  must  fail.  His  lan- 
guage upon  the  subject  was  as  follows : 

"  During  the  general  lassitude  of  mechanical  exertion  which 
succeeded  the  American  Revolution,  the  utility  of  steam  engines 
appears  to  have  been  forgotten  ;  but  the  subject  afterward 
started  into  very  general  notice  in  a  form  in  which  it  could  not 
possibly  be  attended  with  success.  A  sort  of  mania  began  to  pre- 
vail, which  has  not  yet  entirely  subsided,  for  impelling  boats  by 
steam  engines.  Dr.  Franklin  proposed  to  force  the  boat  forward 
by  the  immediate  application  of  steam  upon  the  water.  Many 
attempts  to  simplify  the  working  of  the  engine,  and  more  to  dis- 
pense with  the  beam  in  converting  the  vibratory  into  a  rotary 
motion,  were  made.  For  a  short  time,  a  passage  boat,  rowed 
by  a  steam  engine,  was  established  between  Bordentown  and 
Philadelphia,  but  it  was  soon  laid  aside.  The  best  and  most 


382  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

powerful  steam  engine  which  has  been  used  for  this  purpose  — 
excepting,  perhaps,  one  constructed  by  Dr.  Kinsey,  with  the 
performance  of  which  I  am  not  sufficiently  acquainted — belonged 
to  a  Gentleman  of  New  York.  It  was  made  to  act,  by  way  of 
experiment,  upon  oars,  upon  paddles,  and  upon  flutter  wheels. 
Nothing  in  the  success  of  any  of  these  experiments  appeared  to 
be  sufficient  compensation  for  the  expenee  and  the  extreme  in- 
convenience of  the  steam  engine  in  the  vessel. 

"  There  are,  indeed,  general  objections  to  the  use  of  the  steam 
engine  for  impelling  boats,  from  which  no  particular  mode  of 
application  can  be  free.  These  are, 

"  First,  the  weight  of  the  engine  and  of  the  fuel. 
"  Second,  the  large  space  which  it  occupies. 
"  Third,  the  tendency  of  its  action  to  rack  the  vessel,  and 
render  it  leaky. 

"  Fourth,  the  expenee  of  maintainance. 

"  Fifth,  the  irregularity  of  its  motion,  and  the  motion  of  the 
water  in  the  boiler  and  cistern,  and  of  the  fuel  vessel  in  rough 
water. 

"  Sixth,  the  difficulty  arising  from  the  liability  of  the  paddles 
and  oars  to  break,  if  light,  and  from  the  weight  if  made 
strong. 

"  Nor  have  I  ever  heard  of  an  instance,  verified  by  other  testi- 
mony than  that  of  the  inventor,  of  a  speedy  and  agreeable  voyage 
having  been  performed  in  a  steamboat  of  any  construction. 

"  I  am  well  aware  that  there  are  still  many  respectable  and 
ingenious  men  who  consider  the  application  of  the  steam  engine 
to  the  purpose  of  navigation  as  highly  important,  and  as  very 
practicable,  especially  on  the  rapid  waters  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  who  would  feel  themselves  almost  offended  at  the  expression 
of  an  opposite  opinion.  And  perhaps  some  of  the  objections 
against  it  may  be  avoided.  That  founded  on  the  expense  and 
•weight  of  the  fuel,  may  not  for  some  years  exist  on  the  Missis- 
sippi, where  there  is  a  redundance  of  wood  on  the  banks ;  but 
the  cutting  and  loading  will  be  almost  as  great  an  evil." 

These  oracular  opinions  were  expressed  with  great 
flippancy,  but  it  is  evident  that  Mr.  Latrobe  had  very 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  383 

little  knowledge  of  the  subject  on  which  he  wrote.  The 
performance  of  "  the  passage  boat "  on  the  Delaware 
could  only  have  been  known  to  him  by  prejudiced 
report,  and  he  seems  to  have  been  entirely  ignorant 
of  the  fact  that  some  of  the  officers  and  most  distin- 
guished members  of  the  American  Philosophical  So- 
ciety had  certified  that  the  boat  in  question  was  not 
only  successful  and  speedy,  but  an  agreeable  means 
of  conveyance. 

Among  others  who  experimented  in  this  country 
before  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  was  Ni- 
cholas I.  Rooseveldt,  under  the  patronage  of  Livingston. 
It  was  for  his  benefit  originally  that  Livingston  pro- 
cured, in  1798,  a  transfer  of  the  rights  of  John  Fitch, 
under  the  law  of  New  York.  "When  Livingston  went 
to  France,  Rooseveldt  was  abandoned,  and  Fulton  waa 
taken  in  favor.  The  experiments  of  Rooseveldt  were 
made  with  paddle-wheels. 

In  May,  1804,  John  Cox  Stevens,  who  afterwards 
obtained  in  England  a  patent  for  a  steam-boat,  went 
from  Hoboken  to  New  York  in  a  steam-boat  propelled 
at  the  stern,  and  subsequently  made  an  excursion  of 
two  or  three  miles  up  and  down  the  river  Hudson.1  , 

1  Stewart's  Anecdotes  of  Steam-engines.     "Woodcroft. 

John  Stevens  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  recommendation 
that  the  Legislature  of  New  Jersey  should  pass  a  law  giving 
exclusive  rights  to  Fitch.  His  attention  seems  to  have  been 
turned  to  steam  navigation  from  that  time.  He  was  engaged 
in  experiments  in  1790,  and  claimed  a  federal  patent.  He  was 
the  father  of  John  C.  Stevens,  here  spoken  of.  Charles  King, 
LL,  D.,  President  of  Columbia  College,  New  York,  in  a  lecture 
delivered  in  1851,  before  the  Mechanics'  Society  of  that  city,  said, 
"  In  1804,  Col.  [John  Cox]  Stevens,  whose  fertile  and  ingenious 


384  LIFE  OF  JOHX  FITCH. 

We  now  come  to  Robert  Fulton  ;  a  man  original  in 
many  things,  but  who,  as  the  introducer  of  the  steam- 
boat, merely  availed  himself  of  the  fruits  of  the  labors 

mind  was  specially  turned  to  the  mechanical  inventions,  had 
constructed  and  put  into  operation  a  steam-boat,  of  which  the 
motive  power  was  a  propellor  —  the  propellor  which  at  this  day, 
I  believe,  is  admitted  in  form  and  proportion  to  be  the  best. 
The  boat  was  a  small  one.  In  it  Col.  Stevens  put  an  engine 
with  tubular  boilers. 

****** 

"  The  machinery,  made  under  his  own  direction,  and  at  his 
own  shop  at  Iloboken,  set  in  motion  two  propellors,  of  five  feet 
diameter  each,  and  each  furnished  with  four  blades,  having  the 
proper  twist,  —  to  obtain  which  he  had  the  greatest  difficulty 
with  his  workmen,  —  and  set  at  an  angle  of  about  thirty-five 
degrees.  This  vessel,  used  only  for  testing  the  possibility  of 
steamboat  navigation,  so  completely  demonstrated  the  fact,  that 
Col.  Stevens  applied  it  on  a  larger  scale,  in  1806,  to  a  piroque, 
50  feet  long,  12  wide,  7  deep,  which  attained  very  considerable 
speed.  Encouraged  thereby,  he  commenced  the  Phronix,  with 
side  wheels.  *  *  *  *  It  is  a  proof  of  the  re- 
markable accuracy  and  skill  of  the  Iloboken  workshop,  that  the 
engine  of  the  first  small  propellor,  carefully  preserved,  was  set 
up  again  not  more  than  10  or  12  years  ago,  and,  without  alter- 
ing a  screw,  worked  most  successfully. 

****** 

"Mr.  Stevens  produced,  independently  of  Fulton's  plans  and 
experiments,  his  steamer  Phoenix;  but,  precluded  by  the  mono- 
poly which  Fulton's  success  had  obtained  for  him  of  the  waters 
of  New  York,  Mr.  Stevens  first  employed  her  as  a  passenger 
boat  between  this  city  and  New  Brunswick,  and  finally  conceived 
the  bold  purpose  of  sending  her  round  to  Philadelphia  by  sea, 
and  he  executed  it  successfully.  His  son,  Robert  L.  Stevens, 
went  round  with  the  boat  in  the  month  of  June,  1808.  A  fierce 
storm  overtook  them.  A  schooner  in  company  was  driven  off 
to  sea,  and  was  absent  many  days ;  but  the  Phoenix  made  a  safe 
harbor  at  Barnegat ;  whence,  when  the  storm  abated,  she  pro- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  385 

and  successes  of  the  ingenious  men  in  America  and 
Europe  who  had  toiled  before  him. 

In  1785,  Robert  Fulton  was  living  at  Philadelphia. 
The  City  Directory  for  that  year  has  his  name  thus : 

ROBERT  FULTON,  miniature  painter,  corner  of  second  and 
Walnut  Street. 

ceeded  safely  to  Philadelphia,  and  plied  many  years  between 
that  City  and  Trenton.  Mr.  Stevens  thus  earned  indisputably 
the  honour  of  first  venturing  to  encounter  the  might  of  Ocean  suc- 
cessfully with  a  steam  propelled  vessel.  When  the  Phoenix 
•vrent  round  to  Philadelphia,  the  Atlantic,  and  no  other  sea,  had 
ever  known  the  domination  of  victorious  steam. 

****** 

"  It  was  again  reserved  to  Stevens,  after  long  and  numerous 
experiments,  carefully  conducted  and  tested,  as  to  form  of  vessel 
best  calculated  to  overcome  the  resistance  of  the  dense  medium 
through  which  it  was  to  make  its  way,  to  send  forth  on  the 
Hudson  a  boat  as  superior  in  size  and  equipment,  as  in  speed, 
to  all  before  it,  and  to  travel  at  the  rate  of  13j  miles  per  hour. 
Even  that  is  now  slow;  and  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
•which  separate  us  from  Albany  are  passed  over  by  the  steam- 
boats—  not  one,  but  many  —  in  eight  or  nine  hours  ;~  and  the 
actual  rate  of  nineteen  or  twenty  miles  the  hour  has  been  at- 
tained by  some  of  the  later  boats. 

"  But  when  the  New  Philadelphia,  R.  L.  Stevens'  boat,  in  1814, 
started  off  at  the  rate  of  13£  miles  per  hour,  even  the  senses  were 
distrusted;  philosophy,  which  had  calculated  the  resistance  of 
the  medium  to  the  forms  then  used,  was  at  fault,  and  what  had 
been  actually  done  was  pronounced  impossible.  But  the  steady, 
far-reaching  mind  of  the  younger  Stevens,  knew  the  secret  of 
his  success — that  it  was  due  to  the  form  which  he  had  given  his 
vessel.  He  saw,  too,  after  some  trips,  that  even  that  form  was 
far  from  the  perfection  he  had  designed,  and  accordingly  went 
to  Brown  &  Bell,  eminent  ship  builders,  and  begged  them  to  put 
in  the  New  Philadelphia  a  sharp,  false  bow,  of  which  he  gave 
them  a  drawing.  After  considering  the  proposition,  they  de- 
33 


386  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

In  the  preface  of  this  Directory,  it  is  stated  that  the 
names  were  taken  September,  1785.  This  was  after 
Fitch's  application  to  Congress,  and  after  he  had  laid 
his  drawings  before  the  American  Philosophical  So- 
ciety. How  long  Mr.  Fulton  remained  in  Philadel- 
phia, is  not  specified  by  his  biographers.  A  deed  for 
a  small  farm,  which  he  bought  for  the  use  of  his  mo- 
ther, bears  date  May  6,  1786.  After  that  time,  Mr. 
Fulton  removed  his  mother  and  her  family  to  the  pro- 
perty, which  was  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania, 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  her  former  residence 
in  Lancaster.  Having  then  visited  the  Warm  Springs, 
Virginia,  he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  after  some 
time  went  to  England.1  It  is  very  probable,  from  all 
these  circumstances,  that  Fulton  did  not  leave  the 
United  States  until  some  time  in  the  fall  of  1786  — 
long  after  Fitch's  scheme  had  become  well  known, 
by  application  to  Congress,  and  the  legislatures  of 
Virginia,  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey, 
after  the  formation  of  the  Steam-boat  Company, 
and  after  the  skiff  steam-boat  had  been  successfully 
tried  on  the  Delaware.  The  experiments  then  made 
were  notorious,  and  they  could  not  have  been  disre- 
garded by  a  person  of  Mr.  Fulton's  turn  of  mind. 

The  English  writers  declare  that  in  1801  Mr.  Fulton 

clined,  declaring  themselves  unwilling  to  encounter  the  ridicule 
of  what  struck  them  as  so  unseemly  a  work,  and  Mr.  Bell  added 
that  it  -would  be  called  '  Bell's  nose,'  and  would  become  a  gene- 
ral laughing  stock.  Repulsed,  but  not  disconcerted,  young  Ste- 
vens, sure  of  his  own  conclusions,  built  a  false  bow  at  his  own 
shop,  put  it  on,  and  obtained  in  consequence  an  additional  speed 
of  several  miles  the  hour." 

1  Reigart's  Life  of  Fulton,  page  40,  et  supra. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  387 

visited  Symington's  boat  on  the  Forth  and  Clyde 
Canal ;  that  he  introduced  himself  by  name,  and  de- 
clared that  he  had  a  great  curiosity  to  see  the  perform- 
ance of  the  vessel.  To  gratify  him,  the  boat  was  put 
in  motion,  and  with  Fulton  on  board,  it  was  propelled 
from  lock  16,  four  miles  west,  and  returned  to  the 
starting-place.  The  speed  was  six  miles  an  hour. 
Fulton  took  drawings  of  the  machinery.  This  is  de- 
clared in  affidavits  made  by  Robert  Weir  and  Jacob 
Perkins.1 

Beside  this  assistance  from  Symington  and  Miller, 
it  has  been  successfully  shown  that  Fulton  inspected 
and  had  possession  of  the  drawings  and  papers  of  John 
Fitch,  which  were  left  with  Aaron  Vail  in  France. 

Nathaniel  Cutting,  in  a  letter  to  Fernando  Fairfax, 
gives  the  substance  of  a  conversation  with  Mr.  Vail  on 
the  subject.2  The  latter,  in  speaking  of  Fitch  and  his 
experiments  in  the  United  States,  said, 

"  Mr.  Fitch  came  to  France  in  pursuit  of  this  object,  but  could 
not  obtain  the  pecuniary  aid  required  for  his  purpose  ;  and  after 
exhausting  his  patience,  and  the  limited  means  at  his  disposal, 
he  deposited  his  specifications  and  drawings  in  the  hands  of  Mr. 
Vail,  and  quit  the  pursuit  in  France. 

****** 

"  Mr.  Vail  further  remarked  that  he  himself  was  not  suffi- 
ciently acquainted  with  mechanics  to  know  whether  or  not  the 
mechanism  now  intended  to  be  used  by  Mr.  Fulton  was  the  same 
in  principle  with  that  formerly  invented  and  used  by  Mr.  Fitch  ; 
but  it  might  be  the  same,  for  aught  he  knew,  for  he  had  lent  to 
Mr.  Fulton,  at  Paris,  all  the  specifications  and  drawings  of  Mr. 
fitch,  and  they  remained  in  his  possession  several  months ;  and 

1  Woodcroft,  pages  64,  65. 

8  Duer's  second  letter  to  Golden,  page  57. 


388  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

doubtless  a  man  of  Mr.  Fulton's  ingenuity  would  not  fail  to 
profit  by  any  new  and  useful  combination  of  the  mechanical 
power  that  be  might  then  discover,  especially  as  he  might  sup- 
pose no  one  living  would  convict  him  of  the  plagiarism" 

Mr.  John  D.  Dickinson,  in  a  letter  to  "William  A. 
Duer,  dated  Troy,  November  17,  1818,  says, 

"  I  saw  James  Vail,  who  resided  with  his  uncle,  Aaron,  at 
L'Orient,  when  Chancellor  Livingston  arrived  in  France.  He 
[James  Vail]  had  often  seen  and  examined  Fitch's  papers  and 
designs  about  his  steam-boat.  He  had  frequently  heard  the 
Chancellor  and  Aaron  Vail  conversing  on  the  subject.  He  don't 
recollect  seeing  the  papers  shown  to  Livingston,  but  has  no 
doubt  they  were." ' 

In  reference  to  this  matter,  Noah  Webster,  the  dis- 
tinguished lexicographer,  in  a  letter  to  R.  W.  Gris- 
wold,  dated  December  18,  1839,  said, 

1  "  My  father,  the  late  Dr.  Cartwright,  whose  various  mecha- 
nical inventions,  especially  the  power  loom,  are  well  known  to 
your  scientific  readers,  has  frequently  told  me,  when  I  was  a 
boy,  that  1  should  live  to  see  vessels  on  the  water,  and  carriages 
on  the  land,  impelled  by  steam  ;  and  that  he  had  no  doubt  but 
that  the  use  of  horses  for  this  latter  purpose  would  be  superseded 
altogether.  About  45  years  ago,  he  had  a  model  of  a  steam- 
engine  constructed,  which  was  to  be  attached  to  a  barge  ;  and  I 
perfectly  recollect  the  general  principle  of  it,  being  the  same  as 
those  now  in  use.  The  model  was  laid  by,  and  he  did  not  take 
any  steps  for  making  his  invention  more  fully  known.  In  the 
year  1799,  he  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Fulton,  an  American 
engineer,  to  whom  he  gave  the  plan  or  model  of  the  steamboat ; 
which  I  have  been  informed  was  first  used  in  America  by  Mr. 
Fulton,  who  had  the  credit  of  the  invention. 

"As  none  of  my  father's  family  are  likely  to  enjoy  any  benefit 

from  his  inventions  beyond  the  fame  of  them,  I  have  thought  it 

right  to  state  these  particulars  in  justice  to  his  memory  and  for 

the  satisfaction  of  his  descendants.  EDM.  CARUVRICHT." 

Gentleman's  Magazine  (London),  Feb.,  1832,  page  108. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  389 

"About  that  time  [after  Fitch's  experiments  on  the  Delaware], 
the  Company  aiding  Mr.  Fitch  sent  him  to  France,  at  the  request 
of  Mr.  Vail,  our  Consul  at  L'Orient,  who  was  one  of  the  Com- 
pany. But  this  was  when  France  began  to  be  agitated  by  the 
revolution,  and  nothing  in  favour  of  Mr.  Fitch  was  accomplished. 
lie  therefore  returned.  Mr.  Vail  afterward  presented  to  Mr. 
Fulton  for  examination  the  papers  of  Mr.  Fitch,  containing  Ms 
scheme  for  steam  navigation."1 

Armed,  thus,  with  the  plans  of  Fitch,  Symington, 
and  Cartwright,  and  aided  by  the  instruction  of  Chan- 
cellor Livingston  as  to  what  he  had  himself  learned  of 
the  boat  of  Morey,  of  Fitch  on  the  Collect,  New 
York,  of  Rooseveldt,  and  of  Stevens  on  the  Hudson, 
Mr.  Fulton  commenced  experiments,  in  1803,  on  his  ori- 
ginal invention  at  Plombieres. 

Afterwards,  procuring  a  steam-engine  of  James 
"Watt,  the  great  improver  of  these  machines,  and  adapt- 
ing all  the  improvements  made  by  others,  he  succeeded 
in  propelling  the  Clermont,  on  the  Hudson,  in  1807, 
at  the  rate  of  four  miles  an  hour. 

The  extent  of  his  claims  as  an  original  inventor  are 
thus  concisely  summed  up  by  Mr.  Woodcroft. 

"  He  had  a  cylinder,  with  steam  acting  on  each  side  of  the 
piston,  the  air  pump,  and  detached  condenser  (Watt's  inven- 
tion), connecting  rods,  and  cranks,  to  obtain  a  rotary  motion, 
and  a  fly  wheel,  to  get  over  the  dead  point  (Pickand's  invention), 
improved  paddle  wheels  (Miller's  invention),  and  the  combina- 
tion of  these  instruments  together  for  the  first  time  (Symington's 
invention).  In  fact,  if  these  inventions,  separate  or  as  a  com- 
bination, were  removed  out  of  Fulton's  Boat,  nothing  would  bo 
left  but  the  hull."2 

1  Duer's  second  letter  to  Colden. 

2  History  of  Early  steam  Navigation,  page  G4.     See  Stewart's 
Anecdotes  of  Steam-engines,  to  the  same  point. 

33* 


300  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 


The  Clermont,  Robert  Fulton's  Steam-boat^-New  York, 


Robert  Fulton  had  what  John  Fitch  had  not  — 
a  rich,  enthusiastic,  liberal,  influential  patron.  Chan- 
cellor Livingston  was  willing  to  put  up  with  a  boat 
going  at  the  rate  of  five  miles  an  hour ;  Fitch's 
Company  were  dissatisfied  with  one  which  progressed 
seven  and  eight  miles  in  the  same  time.  Fulton  had 
the  very  best  machinery  that  could  be  made  in  Europe  ; 
Fitch  made  his  own,  by  the  aid  of  common  black- 
smiths, roughly,  and  had  to  experiment  as  he  went  on, 
to  discover  the  relative  positions  and  influences  of  the 
various  parts  of  the  engine  and  rowing  apparatus 
upon  each  other.  Fulton  began  after  years  wasted  by 
other  men  in  trials  by  which  he  profited ;  and,  appro- 
priating to  himself  the  principles  made  manifest  by 
the  results  of  their  toils,  disappointments,  and  losses, 
is  now  held  out  to  the  world  as  the  original  inventor 
of  steam-boats.  Against  such  rank  injustice,  the  facts 
set  forth  in  these  pages  will  continually  protest. 

We  have  said  that  John  Fitch  procured  a  law  from 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  391 

the  State  of  New  York,  protecting  him  in  his  invention 
of  the  steam-boat.  In  1798,  application  was  made  to 
the  Legislature  of  that  State  by  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
representing  that  himself  and  others  associated  with 
him  had  gone  to  great  expense  in  making  experiments 
upon  steam-boats,  but  were  hindered  from  prosecuting 
them  by  the  previous  law,  giving  special  rights  to  John 
Fitch  for  fourteen  years.  It  was  suggested  that  Fitch 
was  dead,  or  that  he  had  left  the  commonwealth,  and 
that  it  would  be  for  the  public  advantage  to  repeal  the 
law.  Under  these  representations,  the  Assembly  of 
New  York  repealed  the  act  in  favor  of  Fitch,  and 
transferred  all  the  rights  granted  therein  to  Livingston 
and  his  associates  for  the  term  of  twenty  years,  upon 
condition  that  they  should  in  two  years  build  a  boat  to 
progress  by  steam  not  less  than  four  miles  an  hour.1 
This  condition  was  not  complied  with ;  and  the  law 
was  extended  from,  time  to  time,  until  Fulton  fulfilled 
the  terms  by  navigating  the  Clermont  to  Albany  in 
1807  ;2  the  privileges  having  also  been  so  extended 
that  the  law  had  then  seventeen  years  to  run. 

1  This  law  is  entitled,  "An  Act  repealing  the  Act  for  granting 
and  securing  to  John  Fitch   the  sole  right  and  advantage  of 
making  and  employing  the  steam-boat  by  him  lately  invented, 
and  for  other  purposes."   The  other  purposes  were  the  re-grant  to 
Livingston. 

2  It  is  a  fact  in  no  way  creditable  to  the  biographers  of  Ful- 
ton, that  they  disingenuously  conceal  the  manner  in  which  this 
law  was  obtained  by  taking  away  the  privileges  granted  to  John 
Fitch.     Mr.  Colden  speaks  of  it  as  if  it  was  an  original  law, 
granting  privileges  to  Livingston  and  his  companion,  when  in 
fact  it  was  only  an  assignment  or  transfer  of  the  rights  of  Fitch. 
Although  Mr.  Duer  exposed  this  injustice  in  his  two  "  Letters  to 


392  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Fulton  and  Livingston  did  not  attempt  to  obtain  a 
patent  from  the  United  States  as  soon  as  they  had 
shown  the  practicability  of  the  Clermont.  Probably 
thinking  that  the  act  originally  passed  in  favor  of 
Fitch  in  the  State  of  New  York,  which  had  been  ap- 
propriated to  their  use,  was  better,  they  made  such  a 
monopoly  under  it  that  opposition  was  interposed  by 
those  who  were  interested  in  navigation.  Under  the 
patent-law,  in  proceedings  for  infringement,  Messrs. 
Fulton  and  Livingston  would  have  been  compelled  to 
submit  the  originality  of  their  invention  to  the  law, 
and  to  be  satisfied  with  such  damages  as  might  be  al- 
lowed them.  But  under  the  Fitch  law,  they  were  em- 
powered to  seize  and  forfeit  any  boat  impelled  by  the 
power  of  fire  and  steam,  without  their  license,  no 
matter  in  what  manner  those  forces  were  applied, 
together  with  one  hundred  dollars  penalty  for  every 
infraction.1 

Golden,"  Mr.  Reigart,  the  latest  biographer  of  Fulton,  has  fol- 
lowed the  same  course.  He  speaks  of  the  New  York  law  as  if 
an  original  bill  had  been  presented  by  Dr.  Mitchell,  and  quotes 
an  anecdote,  to  the  effect  that  "  the  wags  of  the  house  laughed 
at  it  as  a  thing  unworthy  of  attention."  How  the  wags  could 
sneer  in  that  manner  at  a  law  already  in  existence,  the  biogra- 
pher does  not  undertake  to  explain. — See  Reigart's  Life  of  Ful- 
ton, page  163. 

1  The  profits  of  Fulton  and  Livingston  must  have  been  very 
considerable.  They  announced  by  advertisement  in  the  Phila- 
delphia Aurora,  in  June,  1812,  that  they  would  grant  licenses 
for  building  and  navigating  steam-boats  in  any  part  of  the 
United  States.  The  conditions  were,  that,  out  of  the  gross  re- 
ceipts, ten  per  cent,  on  the  cost  of  the  boats  was  to  be  retained 
by  the  builders.  All  receipts  beyond  ten  per  cent,  were  to  be 


LIFE    OF    JOHN     FITCH.  393 

The  originality  of  Fulton  was  disputed  ;  but,  armed 
with  the  powers  of  the  statute,  he  and  his  associates 
fought  stoutly  against  all  opposition.  As  early  as 
1810,  a  company  was  formed  at  Albany,  to  run  a  line 
of  steam-boats  to  New  York.  Livingston  and  Fulton 
applied  to  the  Chancellor  of  the  State  for  an  injunc- 
tion against  those  who  were  interested  in  the  scheme. 
The  Chancellor  refused  to  grant  the  application,  de- 
claring that  the  law  was  invalid,  being  superseded  by 
the  patent-laws  of  the  United  States.  This  decision 
was  reversed  in  the  Court  of  Errors.  The  claimants 
under  the  Fitch  law  were  not  satisfied  with  the  triumph 
thus  gained,  and  they  procured  from  a  pliant  Legisla- 
ture the  passage  of  an  act  making  it  obligatory  on  the 
Chancellor  to  grant  an  injunction  whenever  the  claim- 
ants under  the  steam-boat  Act  required  it.  The  dis- 
pute would  probably  have  been  taken  to  the  Courts  of 
the  United  States,  but  Fulton  and  Livingston  were  too 
wise  to  risk  the  chances  of  such  an  arbitrament.  They 
compromised  with  the  Albany  Company,  and  gave  them 
full  license  to  run  their  steam-boats  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain. 

The  people  of  New  Jersey  found  the  New  York 
statute  particularly  onerous,  as  it  precluded  them  from 
navigating  the  Hudson,  a  boundary  of  their  own  State. 
Laws  were  therefore  passed  to  retaliate  against  Living- 
ston, Fulton,  and  the  New  York  steam-boat  owners. 
Foremost  among  their  opponents  was  Colonel  Aaron 
Ogden,  of  Elizabethtown,  who  owned  an  ancient  ferry 

divided  —  one-half  to  the  builders  of  the  steam-boat,  the  other 
half  to  Fulton  and  Livingston.  If  the  receipts  were  less  than 
ten  per  cent.,  Fulton  and  Livingston  were  to  have  no  dividend. 


394  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

between  that  place  and  New  York  city.  He  procured 
a  steam-boat,  to  be  built  after  the  plan  of  Daniel 
Dod,1  and  his  effort  caused  a  very  bitter  controversy. 
In  1815,  application  was  made  to  the  Legislature  of 
New  Jersey,  by  Fulton  and  his  associates,  to  repeal 
the  law  which  was  passed  in  retaliation  against  the 
New  York  statute.  Colonel  Ogden  and  others  strongly 
opposed  it.  Testimony  was  given  by  John  Wilson, 
Mr.  Ewing,  Captain  Deklyn,  and  Nathan  Wright,  in 
relation  to  the  steam-boat  of  Fitch.  The  matter  was 
discussed  before  the  Legislature  by  Thomas  Addis 
Emmett  on  the  part  of  the  New  York  petitioners,  and 
by  Samuel  L.  Southard,  Joseph  Hopkinson,  and  Colonel 
Ogden,  on  the  other  side. 

The  MS.  journals  of  John  Fitch  were  before  the 
Legislature.  They  are  spoken  of  several  times  in  the 
sketch  of  "  the  steam-boat  case,"  published  at  Trenton 
in  1815.  Reference  is  made  to  peculiar  language  of 
Fitch,  which  is  found  in  his  manuscripts  as  they  are  in 
the  Philadelphia  Library.  The  minutes  of  the  Direct- 
ors of  the  Company  do  not  refer  to  this  matter  in  any 
way.  It  is  impossible,  however,  to  resist  the  belief 
that,  although  the  thirty  years  specified  by  Fitch  had 
not  elapsed,  the  seals  were  broken  and  the  manuscripts 
used.  They  must  have  been  immediately  resealed  and 
returned  to  the  Library,  as  the  Directors  of  1823  seem 
to  have  been  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  the  original  en- 
closure had  ever  been  opened.  It  is  proper  to  say  that 
the  letter  of  Fitch  to  the  Librarian,  in  1792,  gave  full 
authority  to  break  the  seals  whenever,  in  the  opinion 

1  Daniel  Dod,  of  Mendham,  New  Jersey,  procured  a  patent 
for  navigating  boats  by  steam,  February  2d,  1814. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  395 

of  the  Directors,  it  was  deemed  proper  to  do  so  for 
the  maintenance  of  his  reputation  and  rightful  claims. 
Although  this  act  was  informal,  those  who  did  it  were 
carrying  out  the  true  spirit  of  the  trust,  in  thus  per- 
mitting the  papers  of  Fitch  to  vindicate  his  claims 
against  "  some  other  man,"  who  was  trying  to  "  obtain 
fame  and  honor"  from  his  "invention." 

The  matter  was  eventually  made  a  subject  of  party 
discipline;  and  under  that  pressure,  the  law  vindi- 
cating the  rights  of  New  Jersey  was  repealed.1 

This  circumstance  nerved  Colonel  Ogden  to  fresh 
exertions.  An  administrator  to  John  Fitch  was  raised 
in  New  Jersey,  who  sold  to  Colonel  Ogden  all  the 
rights  of  the  deceased  in  the  steam-boat,  it  is  said,  for 
ten  dollars.  The  whole  affair  was  manifestly  illegal. 
The  old  Steam-boat  Company  owned  the  patent,  and 
Fitch  at  his  death  had  no  interest  therein  except  as  a 
shareholder.  In  addition  to  that,  whatever  property 
he  may  have  had  in  the  invention  belonged  to  the  lega- 
tees under  his  will.  These  matters  were  not  canvassed 
by  Ogden's  opponents,  and  the  movement  served  its 
purpose  to  strengthen  the  claim  of  the  enemies  of 
Fulton.  Application  was  soon  made  by  Colonel  Ogden, 
as  a  citizen  of  New  Jersey,  and  as  the  representative 
of  John  Fitch,  to  the  Legislature  of  New  York,  re- 
questing that  the  obnoxious  law  should  be  repealed. 
The  memorial  was  referred  to  a  Committee,  of  which 
William  A.  Duer  was  Chairman.  Fulton  and  Living- 
ston were  represented  by  Cadwalader  D.  Coltlen  and 
Thomas  Addis  Emmett.  The  evidence  before  this 
Committee  was  somewhat  like  that  given  before  the 

1  History  of  the  Steam-boat  Case,  Trenton,  1815. 


396  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Legislature  of  New  Jersey.  In  addition,  Governor 
Bloomfield,  of  New  Jersey,  testified  that  he  had  fre- 
quently been  a  passenger  in  Fitch's  boat  on  the  Dela- 
ware. After  investigation,  the  Committee  reported  in 
favor  of  a  repeal  of  the  law,  on  the  ground  that  "  the 
steam-boat  of  Robert  Fulton  was,  in  substance,  the  inven- 
tion patented  by  John  Fitch  in  1791 ;"  that  the  patent 
to  Fitch  had  expired,  and  that  any  citizen  of  the 
United  States  had  a  right  to  make  use  of  the  disco- 
very.1 

The  Committee,  in  justification  of  this  opinion,  de- 
clared that, 

"  In  Fitch's  boat,  the  cranks  of  the  axle  beam  were  connected 
•with  a  frame,  from  which  paddles  were  suspended  perpendicu- 
larly, acting  on  an  eliptical  line  in  the  water ;  whilst  in  Fulton's, 
the  axle  was  attached  to  a  vertical  wheel,  with  paddles  or  buck- 
ets firmly  fixed  in  the  periphery.  In  both  the  motion  of  the 
axis  itself  was  rotatory."1 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Fulton,  his  counsel,  Mr. 
Golden,  wrote  his  biography,  and  alluded  to  the  report 
of  the  Committee  of  the  Legislature  of  New  York  in 
terms  which  seemed  to  be  colored  by  the  zeal  of  the 
advocate  rather  than  by  the  impartial  spirit  of  the 
historian.  To  the  attack  thus  made,  Mr.  Duer,  who 
had  been  chairman  of  that  Committee,  published  an 
answer,  which  was  printed  in  Albany,  in  1817,  en- 
titled, "A  Letter  addressed  to  Cadwalader  D.  Golden." 

In  1818,  Mr.  Golden  published  a  reply,  entitled, 

1  New  York  Review,  Vol.  IV.,  page  148.    Duer's  first  letter  to 
Colden. 

2  New  York  Review,  Vol.  IV.,  pages  153,  154.    Duer's  first 
letter  to  Gulden. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  897 

"A  Vindication,  by  Cadwalader  D.  Golden,  of  the 
Steam-boat  Right,"  etc. 

Mr.  Duer  followed,  in  1819,  by  "A  Reply  to  C.  D. 
Colden's  Vindication,"  etc. 

For  the  sake  of  convenience  when  referring  to  them, 
we  have  spoken  of  these  as  Duer's  first  and  second 
letters  to  Golden,  and  as  Colden's  reply  to  Duer.  In 
these  publications  the  whole  matter  was  discussed,  and 
additional  evidence  was  brought  forward  by  Mr.  Duer 
to  sustain  the  claims  of  John  Fitch. 

The  Legislature  of  New  York  refused  to  adopt  the 
report  of  the  Committee  against  the  validity  of  the 
act  relied  upon  by  Fulton.  Colonel  Ogden  would  pro- 
bably have  contested  the  matter  further,  but  he,  too, 
was  brought  over  to  the  adverse  interest.  The  claim- 
ants under  Fulton  compromised  with  him,  as  they  had 
done  with  the  Albany  Company,  and  he  also  run  his 
boats  from  Elizabethtown  to  New  York  under  the  ban- 
ner of  the  monopoly.1 

Some  time  afterward,  one  Thomas  Gibbons  came  to 
Elizabethtown,  New  Jersey,  and  purchased  an  interest 
in  an  ancient  ferry  to  New  York.  He  resolved  to  em- 
ploy steam-boats ;  and,  oddly  enough,  his  right  to  do 
so  was  contested  by  Colonel  Ogden,  the  owner  of  a 
rival  ferry,  who  now  fought  as  stoutly  for  the  Fulton 
and  Livingston  claimants  as  he  had  formerly  battled 
against  them.  Gibbons  was  armed  with  legal  opinions 
that  the  New  York  law  was  unconstitutional,  and  he 
resolved  to  contest  its  validity  to  the  uttermost.1 

The  controversy  was  at  length  taken  into  the  courts, 
and  some  lawsuits  which  arose  under  it  will  be  found 

«  New  York  fteview,  Vol.  IV. 
34 


398  LIFE     OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

reported  in  the  cases,  Gibbons  vs.  Ogden,  1  Halstead 
285,  2  Halstead  122,  3  Halstead  288,  2  Southard  161, 
G  Wheaton  448,  9  Wheaton  1. 

Finally,  the  question  was  authoritatively  settled  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States :  9  Wheaton, 
page  1.  It  was  declared  that  the  power  of  regulating 
commerce,  given  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  included  in  it  the  right  to  regulate  navigation  ; 
and  that  the  law  of  New  York  was  unconstitutional, 
so  far  as  it  prohibited  vessels  licensed  according  to  the 
laws  of  the  United  States  from  carrying  on  a  coasting 
trade,  and  from  navigating  those  waters  by  fire  or 
steam.  With  this  decision  the  monopoly  under  the 
State  law  fell,  and  Fulton  and  Livingston  were  com- 
pelled to  rely  upon  their  patent  obtained  in  1811. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  399 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

STEAM-BOAT   AFFAIRS   IN   THE   UNITED    STATES   AFTER 

FULTON'S  EXPERIMENTS., 

THE  experiment  of  Fulton  aroused  attention  in  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  country  to  the  claims  of  John  Fitcli 
and  his  associates.  Dr.  William  Thornton,  in  1810, 
felt  himself  bound  to  vindicate  the  reputation  of  his 
old  associate.  The  Doctor  was  then  the  Superintendent 
of  the  Patent-Office,  and  was  thoroughly  conversant 
with  the  subject  of  steam-engines.  In  1814,  he  pub- 
lished a  small  pamphlet,  entitled  "  a  short  account  of 
the  Origin  of  Steam-boats,  written  in  1810,  and  now 
committed  to  the  press  by  W.  Thornton,  of  the  City 
of  Washington."  He  commenced  his  statement  in 
these  words : 

"  Finding  that  Mr.  Robert  Fulton,  whose  genius  and  talents 
I  highly  respect,  has  by  some  been  considered  the  inventor  of 
the  steam-boat,  I  think  it  a  duty  to  the  memory  of  the  late  John 
Fitch,  to  set  forth,  with  as  much  brevity  as  possible,  the  fallacy 
of  this  opinion  ;  and  to  show,  moreover,  that  if  Mr.  Fulton  haa 
any  claim  whatever,  it  is  exceedingly  limited." 

Quotations  from  this  pamphlet  have  been  made  in 
appropriate  portions  of  these  pages.  The  following 
gives  the  reason  of  the  final  failure  of  the  old  Steam- 
boat Company.  It  also  controverts  the  idea  that  Mr. 


400  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Fulton  was  entitled  to  any  merit  for  the  employment 
of  paddle-wheels  at  the  sides  of  his  boat,  and  shows 
that  Fulton  was  indebted  to  Fitch  for  the  proportions 
of  his  vessels : 

"Finding  that  the  works  on  board  the  first  boat  were  not 
strong  enough,  we  built  another,  of  twenty  five  tons  burthen, 
rigged  schooner  fashion,  intended  to  go  to  New  Orleans,  and 
mount  the  Mississippi.  When  the  principal  parts  of  the  works 
•were  prepared,  and  ready  to  be  put  on  board,  the  author  of  this, 
thinking  that  no  mistakes  could  be  made  by  the  Company,  went 
to  the  West  Indies,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1790,  to  visit  his 
mother  for  the  last  time,  and  expected  to  find  on  his  return  the 
boat  ascending  the  Mississippi  at  the  rate  of  at  least  four  miles 
an  hour ;  but  a  spirit  of  innovation  having  seised  some  of  the 
Company,  and  their  attempts  to  simplify  the  machine  having 
ruined  it,  their  unsuccessful  endeavors  to  make  it  work  subjected 
them  to  debts,  which  obliged  them  to  sacrifice  both  boats  and 
all  the  machinery  ;  and  on  my  return,  after  a  two  years'  absence, 
I  found,  to  my  inexpressible  grief,  the  whole  of  this  very  valu- 
able scheme  ruined.  I  had  only,  then,  to  wait  until  the  patent 
taken  out  from  the  United  States  during  my  absence,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Company,  by  Messrs.  Fitch  and  Voight,  in  the 
year  1791,  expired,  and  to  take  out  a  patent  for  those  peculiar 
improvements  which  I  had  invented  or  suggested.  Finding  Mr. 
Fulton  about  to  take  out  a  patent  after  he  had  examined  every 
thing  in  the  patent  office  relative  to  steamboats  and  steam  en- 
gines, and  not  knowing  whether  he  might  recollect,  among  so 
many,  those  I  bad  shown  him  of  my  own  invention,  I  thought 
it  proper  to  take  a  patent  for  them  previous  to  a  sight  of  his 
papers,  or  of  any  hint  of  what  they  contained  ;  and  I  believe  he 
will  do  me  the  justice  to  say  I  never  saw  one  of  his,  nor  had  a 
hint  of  what  they  were,  before  my  patent  from  the.  United  States 
was  issued.  I  find  Mr.  Fulton's  patent  rests  principally  on  pro- 
portions, though  the  second  section  of  the  law  expressly  excludes 
proportions.1  He  uses  Watt's  and  Boulton's  steam  engines,  and 

1  Dr.  Thornton  says,  in  a  note,  "  But  if  any  is  claimed,  I  find 
his  boat  is  exactly  in  the  proportion  of  the  boat  we  used,  and 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  401 

wheels  at  the  sides  of  the  boat ;  but  an  engine  on  the  principles 
of  Watt's  and  Boulton's  was  used  by  us,  the  application  of  which 
was  since  patented ;  and  the  use  of  wheels  at  the  sides  was 
known  to  us,  and  I  often  urged  their  use  in  our  first  boat ;  but 
the  objection  to  them  on  so  small  a  scale  was  their  waste  of 
power  by  the  fall  of  the  buckets  or  paddles  on  the  water,  and 
their  lift  of  water  in  rising;  both  of  which  objections  would 
diminish  as  the  wheel  increased  in  size;1  but  side  wheels  could 
not  be  claimed  as  a  new  invention,  for  their  use  in  navigation 
bad  long  been  known  and  published  to  the  world  by  Dr.  John 
Harris,  in  his  Lexicon  Technicum,  in  1710 — just  one  hundred 
years  ago.  If  Mr.  Fulton  should  claim  the  actual  application 
of  steam  to  wheels  at  the  sides  of  a  boat,  in  opposition  to  the 
above  declarations,  I  beg  leave  to  offer,  as  a  caveat  against  any 
such  claim,  the  fire  ship  of  Edward  Thomason,  in  the  tenth 
volume  of  the  Repertory  of  Arts,  which  was  laid  before  the 
Lords  of  the  admiralty  in  1796.  This  contains  wheels  at  the 
sides,  operated  on  by  a  steam  engine,  and  was  intended  to  pos- 
sess the  power  of  moving  given  distances,  in  all  directions,  ac- 
cording to  the  intentions  of  the  director;  so  that,  without  any 
person  being  on  board,  it  would  conduct  itself  into  an  enemy's 
port,  and  by  clock  work,  at  a  given  moment  explode  the  combus- 
tibles; which  plan,  I  also  presume,  might  suggest  to  any  person 
of  even  lees  original  genius  than  Mr.  Fulton,  the  mode  of  letting 
off  torpedoes,  which  were  invented  during  the  war  of  indepen- 
dence, by  the  late  Major  Bushnell,  of  Connecticut." 

It  has  already  been  shown  that  the  first  model  of 
Fitch  at  Southampton,  Bucks  County,  had  side-wheels, 
and  according  to  Bache's  Advertiser,  they  were  fully 

which  was  made  known  to  him  by  Mr.  Aaron  Vail :  viz.,  8  feet 
•wide  by  60  feet  long ;  Mr.  Fulton's,  20  feet  wide  and  150  feet 
long ;  in  both  cases  exactly  7£  times  the  length  of  the  breadth. 
Other  proportions  may  answer  as  well,  but  this  is  given  to  show 
whence  he  derived  his  original  ideas." 

1  Dr.  Thornton  took  out  a  patent  for  propelling  paddle  or 
flutter-wheels,  Dec.  23,  1814. 
34* 


402  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FIT  OH. 

tried  on  the  boat.  This  was  modified  by  the  substitu- 
tion of  paddles  on  the  endless  chain  ;  the  paddle-wheel 
was  considered  a  failure.  Oliver  Evans  said  on  this 
subject,  in  1814, 

"  When  John  Fitch  and  his  Company  were  engaged  in  con- 
structing their  boat  at  Philadelphia,  I  suggested  to  Fitch  the 
plan  of  driving  and  propelling  the  said  boat  by  paddle  or  flutter 
wheels  at  the  sides,  but  he  had  an  objection  to  them. 
I  mentioned  the  same  to  Henry  Voight,  who  said  that  Dr.  Thorn- 
ton was  the  person  who  had  proposed  flutter-wheels  at  the  sides 
of  the  boat,  but  that  both  himself  and  John  Fitch  had  objected 
to  them." ' 

The  noise  of  Fulton's  experiments  seems  also  to 
have  aroused  Henry  Voight,  the  old  companion  and 
partner  of  Fitch,  who,  during  many  years  had,  in  his 
comfortable  office  as  chief  coiner  of  the  United  States 
Mint,  forgotten  his  struggles  and  losses  in  the  steam- 
boat scheme.  Applying  his  inventive  genius  to  work, 
he  produced  an  improved  method  of  navigating  steam- 
boats by  three  rows  of  paddles  at  the  sides.  The 
blades  were  fastened  to  beams,  moved  by  levers  and 
cranks,  so  that  one  set  of  the  paddles  was  always  in 
the  water.  This  plan  was  laid  before  the  American 
Philosophical  Society,  with  a  curious  drawing,  on  the 
21st  of  July,  1809,  and  is  to  be  found  in  the  MS. 
volume  entitled,  "Mechanics,  Machinery,  Engineering, 
&c."2 

1  Duer's  second  letter  to  Golden,  Appendix. 

8  In  1793,  Henry  Voight  discovered  a  method  of  making  steel 
from  iron,  which  it  was  said  exceeded  the  generality  of  imported 
cast-steel  when  manufactured  into  knives  and  razors.  It  was 
announced  that  Mr.  Voight  would  communicate  this  discovery 


404  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

On  the  9th  of  November,  1815,  Fernando  Fairfax, 
of  Washington,  D.  C.,  published  an  advertisement  in 
the  Aurora,  printed  at  Philadelphia,  notifying  all  per- 
sons interested,  that  authority  was  vested  in  him  by 
the  holder  of  the  oldest  patent-rights  for  steam  navi- 
gation in  the  United  States  ;  and  that  all  persons  de- 
siring license  to  navigate  by  steam  must  take  out  license 
for  him,  as  he  held  under  a  member  of  John  Fitch's 
Company.  At  that  time  Fitch's  patent  of  1791  had 
expired,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  person  alluded  to 
was  Dr.  Thornton.  In  regard  to  the  original  inven- 
tion, Mr.  Fairfax  held  this  language : 

"As  to  Fitch  and  his  Company,  I  may  be  permitted  to  observe, 
from  evidence  I  possess  of  the  most  authentic  kind,  that  their 
spirit  of  enterprize  pushed  them  forward  against  numerous  dis- 
couragements of  that  early  time,  when  the  power  of  steam  itself 
was  so  little  known  in  this  country  that  there  was  not  a  man  to 
be  found  in  it  to  make  a  complete  engine,  and  the  proposal  of 
navigating  by  steam  was  regarded  as  a  wild  project,  rather  to 
be  frowned  on  than  encouraged  by  monied  men,  whose  aid  alone 
could  thoroughly  establish  its  use.  If  those  spirited  individuals 
spent  thousands  of  pour.ds  in  demonstrating  their  scheme,  with- 
out reaping  the  profit  which  its  establishment  would  have  in- 
sured, but  when  others,  taking  up  their  invention  at  a  later  and 
more  fortunate  period,  were  enabled  to  realize,  they  are  not  the 
less  entitled  to  the  favour  of  an  enlightened  community,  or  to 
the  reward  of  inventive  genius." 

gratis  to  blacksmiths  and  others  interested  in  the  iron  and  steel 
manufacture,'  "which  may  prove  a  considerable  saving  to  the 
United  States  in  the  importation  of  the  article,  as  every  black- 
smith can  make  his  own  steel." 

Henry  Voight  died  at  Philadelphia,  February  7,  1814,  in  the 
seventy-first  year  of  his  age,  and  was  buried  from  the  house  of 
John  Kessler,  Esq.,  corner  of  Fourth  and  Coates  streets. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  405 

The  law  has  changed  since  the  time  of  Fitch.  He 
claimed  for  any  and  all  applications  of  the  power  of 
steam  to  propel  boats.  The  United  States  patent-laws 
subsequently  passed  restrict  patentees  to  their  own 
method  of  use.  Under  those  regulations,  any  new 
application  of  the  means  of  propulsion  might  be 
patented.  Thus  it  happened  that  Livingston  and 
Fulton  had  many  rivals  to  contend  against.1  Stevens 

1  Fulton  and  Livingston  seem  to  have  been  so  well  satisfied 
with  the  monopoly  given  them  by  the  assignment  or  transfer  of 
rights  originally  granted  by  the  State  of  New  York  to  John 
Fitch,  that  application  was  not  made  by  Fulton  for  a  patent 
under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  until  1811.  Before  that 
time  various  patents  had  been  issued  for  the  application  of  steam 
to  the  propulsion  of  vessels.  The  following  is  a  list  of  them : 

John  Fitch,  Philadelphia,  August  20,  1791. , 

James  Rumsey,  Berkely  County,  Virginia,  1791. 

Jehoshaphat  Starr,  Connecticut,  April  28,  1797. 

Edward  West,  Kentucky,  July  6,  1802. 

Dr.  William  Thornton,  Washington,  D.  C.,  January  16,  1809. 

Daniel  French,  New  York,  October  12,  1809. 

John  Stevens,  New  York,  January  3,  1810. 

Samuel  Bolton,  Philadelphia,  November  1,  1810. 

Michael  Morrison,  Boston,  January  17,  1811. 

Robert  Fulton,  New  York,  February  9,  1811. 

The  patents  for  steam-engines  in  the  same  period  were  as  fol- 
lows : 

John  Stevens,  Bergen  County,  New  Jersey,  August  26,  1791. 

James  Rumsey,  Berkeley  County,  Virginia,  August  26,  1791. 

Englehart  Cruse,  Baltimore,  Maryland,  August  26,  1791. 

J.  Smallman  and  Nicholas  J.  Roosevelt,  May  31,  1798. 
Samuel  Briggs,  Georgia,  October  9,  1802. 
John  Stevens,  Bergen  County,  New  Jersey,  April  11,  1803. 
S.  Morey,  R.  Graves,  and  G.  Richards,  Massachusetts,  June 
15,  1803. 
Oliver  Evans,  Philadelphia,  February  14,  1804. 


406  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

had  constructed  steam-boats  before  Fulton  had  returned 
from  France. 

Rooseveldt  had  been  an  early  experimenter  upon 
steam-boats,  but  had  no  patent.1  Some  arrangement 
was  made  with  him  by  Fulton  and  Livingston,  whereby 
he  was  prevented  from  taking  adverse  action  against 
them.  Rooseveldt  went  to  the  West,  and  built  the 
first  steam-boat  which  ever  navigated  the  Ohio  or  Mis- 
sissippi, which  was  finished  in  1811,  and  called  the 
New  Orleans.  This  boat  was  of  the  capacity  of  one 
hundred  tons.  She  left  Pittsburg  in  October,  being, 
designed  to  run  as  a  packet-boat  between  New  Orleans 
and  Natchez.  This  little  vessel  had  a  wheel  at  the 
stern,  and  was  rigged  with  two  masts  and  sails.  The 
New  Orleans  continued  to  make  trips  between  Natchez 
and  New  Orleans  until  July  14,  1815 ;  when  she  was 
wrecked  near  Baton  Rouge  by  striking  a  snag.2 

Samuel  Brig^s,  Georgia,  October  9,  1809. 

Daniel  French,  New  York,  October  12,  1809. 

John  Stevens,  New  York,  January  3,  1810. 

The  patents  for  steam-boilers  were  as  follows: 

John  Stevens,  Bergen  County,  New  York,  August  26,  1791. 

Elijah  Bachus,  Virginia,  May  31,  1796. 

Matthew  Longwell,  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  July  11,  1807. 

John  Stevens,  Bergen  County,  New  Jersey,  January  3,  1810. 

1  The  first  patent  to  Nicholas  J.  Rooseveldt,  of  New  Jersey, 
for  propelling  boats  by  steam,  was  not  issued  until  December  1, 
1814. 

2  In  "  The  Rambler  in  North  America,"  by  Charles  J.  La- 
trobe,  the  following  interesting  account  of  the  first  trip  of  this 
steam-boat  is  given : 

"  Circumstances  gave  me  the  opportunity  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted with  the  particulars  of  the  very  first  voyage  of  a  steamer 
in  the  "West.  The  complete  success  attending  the  experiments  in 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  407 

Meanwhile,  others  had  engaged  in  this  business. 
The  Comet,  a  boat  of  twenty-five  tons,  owned  by  Daniel 
D.  Smith,  and  built  on  D.  French's  patent,  was 

steam  navigation  made  on  the  Hudson  and  adjoining  waters,  pre- 
vious to  the  year  1809,  turned  the  attention  of  the  principal  pro- 
jectors to  the  idea  of  its  application  on  the  Western  rivers  ;  and 
in  the  month  of  April  of  that  year,  Mr.  Roosevelt,  of  New  York, 
pursuant  to  an  arrangement  with  Chancellor  Livingston  and 
Mr.  Fulton,  visited  those  rivers  with  the  purpose  of  forming  an 
opinion  whether  they  admitted  of  steam  navigation  or  not.  At 
this  time  two  boats  *****  were  run- 
ning on  the  Hudson.  Mr.  R.  surveyed  the  rivers  from  Pittsburg 
to  New  Orleans,  and  as  his  report  was  favorable,  it  was  decided 
to  build  a  boat  at  the  former  town. 

"  This  was  done  under  his  directions ;  and  in  the  course  of 
1811,  the  first  boat  was  launched  on  the  waters  of  the  Ohio. 
She  was  called  the  '  New  Orleans/  and  intended  to  ply  between 
Natchez,  in  the  State  of  Mississippi,  and  the  city  whose  name 
she  bore.  In  October,  she  left  Pittsburg  for  her  experimental 
voyage.  On  this  occasion  no  freight  or  passengers  were  taken, 
the  object  being  merely  to  bring  the  boat  to  her  station.  Mr. 
R.,  his  young  wife  and  family,  Mr.  Baker,  the  engineer,  Andrew 
Jack,  the  pilot,  six  hands,  with  a  few  domestics,  formed  her 
•whole  burden.  There  were  no  wood-yards  at  that  time,  and 
constant  delays  were  unavoidable.  When,  as  related,  Mr.  R. 
had  gone  down  the  river  to  reconnoitre,  he  had  discovered  two 
beds  of  coal,  about  120  miles  below  the  rapids  at  Louisville,  and 
now  took  tools  to  work  them,  intending  to  load  the  vessel  with 
the  coal,  and  to  employ  it  as  fuel,  instead  of  constantly  detain- 
ing the  boat  while  wood  was  procured  from  the  banks. 

"  Late  at  night,  on  the  fourth,  day  after  quitting  Pittsburg, 
they  arrived  in  safety  at  Louisville ;  having  been  but  seventy 
hours  descending  upwards  of  seven  hundred  miles.  The  novel 
appearance  of  the  vessel,  and  the  fearful  rapidity  with  which  it 
made  its  passage  over  the  broad  reaches  of  the  river,  excited  a 
mixture  of  terror  and  surprise  among  many  of  the  settlers  on 
the  banks,  whom  the  rumor  of  such  an  invention  had  never 


408  LIFE    Or    JOHN    FITCH. 

launched  in  1813.  In  1814,  the  Vesuvius,  owned  by 
Fulton  and  others,  was  built  at  Pittsburg.  The  Enter- 
prise, built  according  to  French's  patent,  at  Browns- 
ville, Pennsylvania,  was  the  fourth  boat. 

reached  ;  and  it  is  related  that  on  the  unexpected  arrival  of  the 
boat  before  Louisville,  in  the  course  of  a  fine,  still,  moonlight 
night,  the  extraordinary  sound  which  filled  the  air  as  the  pent- 
up  steam  was  permitted  to  escape  from  the  valves  on  rounding 
to,  produced  a  general  alarm,  and  multitudes  rose  from  their 
beds  to  ascertain  the  cause. 

"  I  have  heard  that  the  general  impression  among  the  good 
Kentuckians  was  that  a  comet  had  fallen  into  the  Ohio  ;  but 
this  does  not  rest  upon  the  same  foundation  as  the  other  facts 
•which  I  lay  before  you,  and  which  I  may  at  once  say  I  had  di- 
rectly from  the  parties  themselves.  The  small  depth  of  water 
in  the  rapids  prevented  the  boat  from  pursuing  her  voyage  im- 
mediately, and  during  the  consequent  detention  of  three  weeks 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  Ohio,  several  trips  were  successfully 
made  between  Louisville  and  Cincinnati.  In  fine,  the  water  rose, 
and  in  the  course  of  the  last  week  in  November  the  voyage  was 
resumed,  the  depth  of  water  barely  admitting  their  passage. 

"When  they  arrived  about  five  miles  above  the  Yellow  Banks, 
they  moored  the  boat  opposite  to  the  first  vein  of  coal,  which 
was  on  the  Indiana  side,  and  had  been  purchased  in  the  interim 
of  the  State  government.  They  found  a  large  quantity  already 
quarried  to  their  hand  and  conveyed  to  the  shore  by  depredators, 
•who  had  not  found  means  to  carry  it  off,  and  with  this  they  com- 
menced loading  the  boat.  While  thus  engaged,  our  voyagers 
•were  accosted  in  great  alarm  by  the  squatters  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, who  inquired  if  they  had  not  heard  strange  noises  on  the 
river  and  in  the  woods  in  the  course  of  the  preceding  day,  and 
perceive  the  shores  shake,  insisting  that  they  had  repeatedly 
felt  the  earth  tremble. 

"  Hitherto  nothing  extraordinary  had  been  perceived.  The 
following  day  they  pursued  their  monotonous  voyage  in  those 
vast  solitudes.  The  weather  was  observed  to  be  oppressively 
hot ;  the  air  misty,  still,  and  dull ;  and  though  the  sun  was  visi- 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  409 

Captain  Henry  M.  Shrecve,  having  greany  improved 
the  arrangements  of  steam-engines,  built  the  fifth  boat, 
the  Washington,  in  1816.  A  lawsuit  with  Fulton  and 

ble  like  a  glowing  ball  of  copper,  his  rays  hardly  shed  more 
than  a  mournful  twilight  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  Evening 
drew  nigh,  and  with  it  some  indications  of  what  was  passing 
around  them  became  evident.  And  as  they  sat  on  the  deck,  they 
ever  and  anon  heard  a  rushing  sound  and  violent  splash,  and 
saw  large  portions  of  the  shore  tearing  away  from  the  land  and 
falling  into  the  river.  It  was,  as  my  informant  said,  'an  awful 
day;  so  still  that  you  could  have  heard  a  pin  drop  on  deck.' 
They  spoke  little,  for  every  one  appeared  thunder-struck.  The 
comet  had  disappeared  about  this  time,  which  circumstance  was 
noticed  with  awe  by  the  crew. 

"The  second  day  after  leaving  the  Yellow  Banks,  the  sun 
rose  over  the  forests  the  same  dim  ball  of  fire,  and  the  air  was 
thick,  dull,  and  oppressive,  as  before.  The  portentous  signs  of 
this  terrific  natural  convulsion  continued  and  increased-.  The 
pilot,  alarmed  and  confused,  affirmed  that  he  was  lost,  as  he 
found  the  channel  everywhere  altered  ;  and  where  he  had  hith- 
erto known  deep  water,  there  lay  numberless  trees,  with  their 
roots  upward.  The  trees  were  seen  waving  and  nodding  on  the 
bank,  without  a  wind  ;  but  the  adventurers  had  no  choice  but 
to  continue  their  route.  Toward  evening  they  found  themselves 
at  a  loss  for  a  place  to  shelter.  They  had  usually  brought  to 
under  the  shore,  but  everywhere  they  saw  the  high  banks  dis- 
appearing, overwhelming  many  a  flat-boat  and  raft  from  which 
the  owners  had  landed  and  made  their  escape. 

"A  large  island,  in  mid-channel,  which  was  selected  by  the 
pilot  as  a  better  alternative,  was  sought  for  in  vain,  having  dis- 
appeared entirely.  Thus,  in  doubt  and  terror,  they  proceeded 
hour  after  hour  till  dark,  when  they  found  a  small  island,  and 
rounded  to,  mooring  themselves  to  the  foot  of  it.  Here  they 
lay,  keeping  watch  on  the  deck,  during  the  long  autumnal  night; 
listening  to  the  sound  of  the  waters  which  roared  and  gurgled 
horribly  around  them,  and  hearing  from  time  to  time  the  rush- 

85 


410  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Livingston  followed,  and  the  District  Court  of  Loui- 
siana decided  against  those  gentlemen  —  a  judgment 
which  practically  set  the  waters  of  the  West  free  to 
every  improvement  which  it  was  possible  to  make  in 
steam-boats. 

ing  earth  slide  from  the  shore,  and  the  commotions  as  the  falling 
mass  of  earth  and  trees  was  swallowed  up  by  the  river. 

"  The  lady  of  the  party,  a  delicate  female,  was  frequently 
awakened  from  her  restless  slumbers  by  the  jar  given  to  the  fur- 
niture and  loose  articles  in  the  cabin,  as  several  times  in  the 
course  of  the  night  the  shock  of  the  passing  earthquake  was 
communicated  from  the  island  to  the  bow  of  the  vessel.  It  was 
a  long  night,  but  morning  dawned  and  showed  them  that  they 
were  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio.  The  shores  and  the  channel 
were  now  equally  unrecognisable,  for  everything  seemed  changed. 
About  noon  that  day  they  reached  the  small  town  of  New 
Madrid,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Mississippi.  Here  they  found 
the  inhabitants  in  the  greatest  distress  and  consternation  ;  part 
of  the  population  had  fled  in  terror  to  the  higher  grounds,  others 
prayed  to  be  taken  on  board,  as  the  earth  was  opening  in  fissures 
on  every  side,  and  their  houses  hourly  falling  around  them. 

"  Proceeding  from  thence,  they  found  the  Mississippi,  at  all 
times  a  fearful  stream,  now  unusually  swollen,  turbid,  and  full 
of  trees ;  and  after  many  days  of  great  danger,  though  they 
felt  and  perceived  no  more  of  the  earthquake,  they  reached  their 
destination  at  Natchez  at  the  close  of  the  first  week  in  January, 
1812,  to  the  great  astonishment  of  all,  the  escape  of  the  boat 
having  been  considered  an  impossibility. 

"At  that  time  you  floated  for  three  or  four  hundred  miles  on 
the  river  without  seeing  a  human  habitation. 

"  Such  was  the  voyage  of  the  first  steamer.  The  natural  con- 
vulsion, which  commenced  at  the  time  of  her  descent,  has  been 
but  slightly  alluded  to,  but  will  never  be  forgotten  in  the  history 
of  the  West ;  and  the  changes  wrought  by  it  throughout  the 
whole  alluvial  region  through  which  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
pour  their  waters,  were  perhaps  as  remarkable  as  any  on 
record." 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  411 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

PERSONAL   MATTERS  —  CONCLUSION. 

FROM  the  revelations  made  in  these  pages,  it  can  be 
deduced  that  John  Fitch  possessed  sterling  qualities. 
He  was  perfectly  honest,  and  in  all  that  he  did  he 
governed  his  actions  by  a  high  code  of  integrity.  His 
perseverance  was  astonishing,  his  faith  in  the  utility 
of  his  discovery  unwavering.  History  can  scarcely 
furnish  a  parallel  to  his  career,  and  show  an  instance 
in  which  any  one  kept  on  in  spite  of  insults  such  as  he 
met  with,  notwithstanding  discouragements  calculated 
to  subdue  all  hope,  and  in  the  midst  of  poverty  the 
most  distressing,  and  misery  aggravated  by  the  suffer- 
ings of  a  sensitive  mind.  He  had  his  weaknesses,  but 
they  were  rather  those  of  a  spirit  which  felt  its  supe- 
riority to  those  who  condemned  him ;  and  if  occasion- 
ally there  appears  in  his  actions  evidence  of  conceit,  it 
may  be  pardoned  when  we  reflect  how  much  he  was  the 
superior  of  those  who  despised  him.  His  temper  was 
quick  and  passionate.  "  His  general  character  in 
Bucks  County,"  says  Longstreth,  "among  his  im- 
mediate friends,  was  that  he  '  bore  anger  as  the 
flint  bears  fire ;  which,  being  much  enforced,  gives 
forth  a  hasty  spark,  and  straight  is  cold  again.'  "  He 
was  proud  when  he  thought  he  was  wronged,  and  even 
overbearing  in  his  intercourse  with  others  who  thwarted 


412  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

him ;  but  his  haughtiness  was  caused  by  a  belief  that 
he  was  entirely  right.  The  melancholy  history  of  his 
struggles  and  disappointments  cannot  be  read  without 
pity  that  one  so  deserving,  and  who  was  so  correct  in 
his  views  of  the  practicability  of  his  great  invention, 
should  have  been  neglected,  reviled,  and  persecuted. 

In  regard  to  the  personal  appearance  of  John  Fitch, 
we  confess  some  difficulty  in  comparing  what  little  he 
has  said  of  himself  in  that  particular  and  the  descrip- 
tions given  of  him  by  others.  Thus  he  speaks  of  his 
diminutive  size  long  after  the  period  at  which  boys 
usually  have  attained  considerable  stature.  When 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  although  he  had  not 
previously  been  sick,  his  captors,  upon  account  of  his 
appearance,  gave  him  a  less  weight  to  carry  than  any 
of  his  companions.  In  his  journal,  when  recording  in 
a  burst  of  admiration  the  final  and  most  successful 
experiment,  he  calls  himself  "  little  Johnny  Fitch."  And 
in  another  place,  alluding  to  the  trifling  attention  paid 
to  his  claims,  he  partly  ascribes  it  to  the  "  insignifi- 
cance "  of  his  appearance. 

On  the  contrary,  those  who  speak  of  him  from  me- 
mory represent  him  to  have  been  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary size.  "  He  was,"  says  Longstreth,  "  tall,  being 
over  six  feet  in  height,  and  rather  stoop-shouldered, 
with  a  short  neck  and  spare  person,  and  as  straight  as 
an  Indian  when  he  walked.  He  had  a  dark  com- 
plexion, and  dark  hair,  which  he  wore  loose  over  his 
shoulders,  and  was  a  great  walker,  always  going  on 
foot  in  his  Western  excursions." ' 

1  "John  Fitch,  of  steam-boat  memory,"  Bucks  County  Intel- 
ligencer. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCE.  413 

Mr.  Whittlesey  says,  describing  his  appearance  at 
Bardstown,  "  He  was  six  feet  two,  erect  and  full.  His 
head  was  slightly  bald,  not  gray.  His  manner  was 
dignified,  distant,  and  imposing.  He  wore  a  black 
coat,  beaver  hat,  black  vest,  light-colored  short  breeches, 
stockings,  large  shoe-buckles,  and  coarse  shoes." ] 

"  He  stood  six  foot  two  in  his  stocking-feet,"  says 
Watson,  quoting  the  statement  of  Mary  McDowell, 
"was  what  was  called  thin  and  spare,  face  slim,  com- 
plexion tawny,  hair  very  black,  and  a  dark  eye,  pecu- 
liarly piercing.  *  *  *  *  His  coun- 
tenance was  pleasing,  and  somewhat  smiling.  In  point 
of  morals  and  conduct,  he  was  perfectly  upright,  sin- 
cere, and  honorable  in  his  dealings,  and  was  never 
known  to  tell  a  wilful  falsehood,  or,  indeed,  to  use  any 
guile."2 

The  only  way  to  reconcile  these  accounts  with  what 
little  had  been  said  by  Fitch  about  himself,  is  to  believe 
that  it  was  his  habit  to  speak  of  himself  depreci- 
atingly. 

The  descendants  of  this  unfortunate  man  have  been 
numerous,  as  the  following  statement,  derived  from 
letters  in  possession  of  the  Longstreth  family,  will 
show: 

Shaler  Fitch,  son  of  John  Fitch,  the  inventor,  born  2d  Nov., 
1767,  died  1842. 

Louisa  Borden,  his  wife,  born  10th  Dec.,  1778. 
Marriage,  12th  Oct.,  1794. 

1  Sparks'  American  Biography,  2d  Series,  Vol.  6,  page  14C. 

2  Watson's  Annals  of  Philadelphia,  Vol.  I.,  page  587-8. 

35* 


414  LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH. 

Children:— 

Jeremiah  Fitch,  born  Oct.  11,  1799. 

John  B.  Fitch,  born  May  31,  1797. 

,  born  June  6,  1799,  died  soon  after  birth. 

Phebe  B.  Fitch,  born  July  19,  1800,  married  Aval  Tracy. 

Oscar  Fitch,  born  June  28,  1803. 

Shaler  Fitch,  born  May  6,  1806. 

James  K.  Fitch,  born  Jan.  25,  1808. 

Lucy  Fitch,  born  Feb.  20,  1810. 

Irwenia  Fitch, ,  married  Chester  Fraincher. 

Lucy  Fitch,  daughter  of  the  inventor,  born ,  1769,  died 

in  1807.     Married  James  Kilbourn, . 

Children : — 

Hector  died  young. 

Lucy  married  Matthew  Matthews. 

Harriet  married  Dr.  Calvin  H.  Case. 
"  "        Avery  Battles. 

Laura  married  Renselaer  N.  Cowles. 

Byron  married  Mary  H.  Cowles. 

Orrel. 

Colonel  James  Kilbourn,  who  married  Lucy,  removed 
with  his  wife  and  family  to  Washington,  Franklin 
County,  Ohio,  in  1803.  Mrs.  Fitch,  the  wife  of  John 
Fitch,  emigrated  there  with  her  son  Shaler,  who  settled 
at  Hartford,  Trumbull  County.  She  died  there,  and 
is  buried  at  Hartford. 

The  facts  heretofore  given  are,  it  is  thought,  suffi- 
cient to  show  the  merits  of  this  neglected  and  unfor- 
tunate man.  The  subsequent  success  of  Fulton,  and 
the  manner  in  which  his  biographers  have  passed  over 
the  history  of  Fitch,  have  long  obscured  the  merits 
and  labors  of  the  patient  projector,  who  demonstrated 
the  success  of  his  plans  years  before  the  period  at 
which  the  uninformed  world  has  supposed  that  steam- 
boats were  invented. 


LIFE    OF    JOHN    FITCH.  415 

How  mournfully  prophetic,  in  view  of  these  facts, 
the  expressions  of  the  poor,  derided,  despised  enthu- 
siast, which  we  find  in  his  journal,  and  which  we  have 
previously  quoted ! — 

"  The  day  will  come  when  some  more  powerful  man  will  get 
fame  and  riches  from  my  invention  ;  but  nobody  will  believe  that 
poor  John  Fitch  can  do  any  thing  worthy  of  attention." 

His  hones  still  rest  near  the  Ohio,  unhonored  by  any 
fitting  memorial.  Is  it  not  time  that  the  State  of  Ken- 
tucky should  do  something  to  testify  its  respect  for  the 
memory  of  one  who,  while  its  lands  were  yet  wild  and 
savage,  foresaw  the  mighty  improvement  which  the 
giant  force  of  steam  would  insure  to  its  smiling  fields, 
and  who  labored  to  convince  mankind  of  the  benefit  ? 
The  movement  once  proposed  by  Governor  Wicklifie 
should  be  again  commenced  and  consummated.  On 
some  fair  promontory  near  the  Ohio,  a  monument  to 
the  inventor  of  the  steam-boat  should  be  raised,  having 
inscribed  upon  it  the  beautiful  paraphrase  of  the  ex- 
pression of  his  hopes,  written  by  John  F.  Watson : 

His  darling  wish  (he  said)  was  to  be  buried 

On  the  margin  of  the  Ohio ; 
Where  the  song  of  the  boatman  might  penetrate 

The  stillness  of  his  resting-place, 

And  where  the  sound  of  the  steam-engine 

Might  send  its  echoes  abroad. 


THE     END. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


JUN251987 
JUNtOae? 


PSD  2343    9/77 


REC'D  LD-U 

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